Summertime

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Summertime crisphead lettuce brings a cool, fresh crunch the moment you lift a full heart—its leaves open in a tight, luminous rosette with a buttery snap and a clean, mild sweetness.

Expect tender, deep-green outer leaves that fade to a paler, buttery center, holding their crisp texture for satisfying salads and elegant platters. Grow Summertime for a dependable 70-day harvest that rewards careful spacing with full, well-formed heads and an inviting, garden-fresh bite.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 70 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	Jul 4th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Summertime crispheads are built for cold eating: tight rosettes and tender centers deliver a buttery crunch without turning watery fast. Dress them with bright acidity and salty dairy (think lemon + feta or buttermilk) so the mild sweetness stays crisp rather than bland.

Best Uses

ice-cold salad bowls where you want crunch to stay intact
wedges dressed lightly so the leaves don’t slip or weep
platter lettuce cups for crisp, handheld bites
simple shaved-raw applications with acidic dressing to wake it up

Flavor Profile

cool, clean sweetness buttery snap with tender inner leaves mild, grassy freshness

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette buttermilk dressing feta avocado grilled chicken parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage powdery mildew or lettuce aphids on Lactuca sativa in summer?

Look for a white, dusty coating on leaves for powdery mildew; remove the worst leaves and improve airflow by spacing plants and watering at the soil line. For aphids (often clustered on new growth), spray a strong jet of water to knock them off, then repeat every 2–3 days for a week; if needed use insecticidal soap, covering undersides of leaves. Avoid wetting leaves at dusk and don’t over-fertilize, since lush growth attracts aphids.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during the main growth phase so it doesn’t bolt?

During the 50–70 day growth period, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; for most home gardens this means watering about 2–3 times per week, more often in hot, windy weather. Water deeply enough to wet the root zone, then let the surface just start to dry before the next watering. Drought stress and irregular moisture are major triggers for bolting in summer lettuce.

When is Lactuca sativa ready to harvest, and how should I pick it?

Harvest at about 70 days from sowing (or when the heads/rosettes reach full size for your type) and when leaves are firm rather than floppy. For leaf lettuce, start picking outer leaves as they reach usable size; for head types, harvest when the head feels dense and reaches its expected size. Once you see signs of bolting (tall center stem forming), harvest promptly because quality declines quickly.