Summertime

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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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

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Summertime Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	May 4th	May 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 28th	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 22nd	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 13th	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 4th	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 30th	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 20th	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 11th	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 2nd	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 13th	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 19th	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

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.