Tennis Ball

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Tennis Ball to a garden.

Crisp, tender butterhead leaves form a perfectly rounded “tennis ball” head, with a cool, milky sweetness and a delicate, buttery snap.

At maturity it delivers a lush, spoon-soft texture—ideal for fresh salads and elegant gatherings where you want flavor that stays light and refreshing. Grow Tennis Ball for a dependable 55-day rhythm and a head shape so tidy it practically invites the harvest basket.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Tennis Ball 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	May 4th	Jun 1st	Jul 26th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Jul 19th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 9th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 13th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 7th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jun 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jun 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jun 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	May 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	May 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	Apr 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Apr 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
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)	32
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This butterhead forms a tidy head with a milky sweetness that reads cool and clean—great when you want lettuce to be the main event, not a background green. Use minimal acid and let the buttery snap and spoon-soft center do the work, especially in wedges and quick-dressed salads.

Best Uses

tight, no-mess butterhead wedge salads that hold dressing
lightly dressed crunch with lemon vinaigrette
sandwich layers where the leaves stay delicate without turning soggy
simple butter-and-salt wilt for a soft, glossy finish

Flavor Profile

cool, milky sweetness buttery snap in the outer leaves spoon-soft tenderness at the center

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil goat cheese white cheddar chicken croutons

Frequently Asked Questions

Lactuca sativa (Tennis Ball) — what should I watch for to prevent downy mildew or lettuce leaf spot, and how do I treat it?

In lettuce, downy mildew and leaf spot often show up as yellow patches on top with gray-purple growth underneath, especially in cool, damp weather. Remove affected leaves, increase airflow between plants, and water at the soil line (not onto leaves). If problems persist, use an approved fungicide labeled for lettuce downy mildew/leaf spot and avoid overhead watering until temperatures dry the canopy.

How often should I water Tennis Ball lettuce during the main growth phase?

During the 4–6 weeks leading up to harvest, keep soil evenly moist so heads stay compact and leaves don’t turn bitter. Water deeply about 1–2 times per week (more in hot, windy weather) to wet the root zone, and let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly before the next watering. If you see leaf edges drying or the plant bolting, it’s usually a sign the soil is swinging too dry between waterings.

How can I tell when Lactuca sativa “Tennis Ball” is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads are firm to the touch and reach the typical compact size for 55 days from sowing, with leaves that are crisp and fully filled through the center. Use your hand to gently squeeze—if it feels loose like a rosette, give it a few more days. For best texture, cut early in the day and refrigerate immediately after harvest.