Skyphos

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Skyphos Batavian lettuce unfurls with a cool, crisp snap and a refreshingly sweet, green-forward flavor.

Its tender leaves form an airy, upright rosette with a lightly ruffled texture that stays pleasantly succulent from first harvest to repeat picking. Ideal for fresh salads and elegant leaf-forward platters, Skyphos brings a vivid, garden-fresh crunch to every bowl.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Rosette

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Apr 4th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Skyphos is a Batavian built for bite: sweet, juicy leaves that stay airy and upright instead of collapsing, so it behaves like a crunchy garnish you can actually eat a lot of. Use restrained, acidic dressings and it’ll keep its green sweetness rather than tasting washed out.

Best Uses

straight-up salad greens with minimal dressing so the sweetness stays clean
leaf-forward platter base for grilled proteins—its crunch holds through assembly
quick toss with vinaigrette and warm bacon fat to lightly lacquer without going limp
chopped for gyro-style wraps where it keeps bite

Flavor Profile

cool, crisp snap refreshingly sweet, green-forward flavor lightly ruffled tenderness with juicy succulence

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette Parmigiano-Reggiano extra-virgin olive oil bacon hard-boiled egg grilled chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common pest or disease for Lactuca sativa (lettuce) like Skyphos, and how do I manage it?

A frequent problem is aphids, which cluster on tender lettuce leaves and can leave sticky residue and stunt growth. Spray plants with a strong jet of water to knock aphids off, then apply insecticidal soap to the undersides of leaves. If you see signs of downy mildew (pale yellow patches with fuzzy growth under leaves), improve airflow, water only at soil level, and remove heavily affected leaves to slow spread.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

During the main growth phase, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for the top 1 inch to stay lightly damp. In typical home gardens this often means watering every 2–3 days, increasing to daily in hot, windy weather. If leaves start to wilt, lettuce is dry; if soil stays soggy or plants look limp despite wet soil, you’re likely overwatering.

How do I tell when Skyphos lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is ready to harvest?

Harvest around 60 days when heads/rosettes are firm and reach their expected size, with leaves that feel crisp rather than floppy. For best eating, cut in the morning after plants have fully hydrated, using a sharp knife to remove the outer leaves or the whole head depending on your growing form. If the center starts to elongate or the plant bolts (goes toward flowering), harvest immediately—flavor turns more bitter.