Valmaine

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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

Crisp, cool crunch begins at first bite—Valmaine romaine forms tight, upright heads with a refreshing, gently sweet leaf flavor and a clean, succulent texture.

The leaves stay tender and pleasantly resilient, making them ideal for fresh salads and bright, leafy platters where you want body without bitterness. Grow Valmaine for a dependable 70-day rhythm and a garden-to-table harvest that looks as good as it tastes.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Rosette

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Valmaine 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	Apr 27th	May 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	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)	32
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Valmaine’s tight, upright heads give you that snap and still-tender mouthfeel that romaine should have—there’s enough resilience to carry dressing without turning slick. It’s happiest with bright acid and salty boosters (lemon, anchovy, Parmesan) that sharpen the sweetness instead of amplifying bitterness.

Best Uses

romaine-sturdy wedge salads with assertive vinaigrette
ice-cold chopped lettuce for crunchy taco or sandwich builds
briefly tossed with hot components so it stays springy (not wilt-mush)
crisp leafy platters with dips where the leaves hold up to scooping

Flavor Profile

cool, gently sweet leaf flavor clean, succulent crunch low-to-moderate bitterness pleasantly resilient bite (not papery)

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic Parmesan anchovy olive oil grilled chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What pests or diseases commonly hit Lactuca sativa (lettuce), and how can I treat them at home?

Watch for aphids and slugs/snails, especially in warm, humid weather—aphids cluster on new growth, while slugs leave irregular holes with silvery trails. For aphids, rinse plants with a strong water jet and remove heavily infested leaves; repeat every 1–2 days until controlled. For slugs, hand-pick at dusk and use a copper barrier or bait placed away from pets; keep the bed free of debris that shelters them. Keep airflow up and avoid wetting leaves to reduce downy mildew risk (a common lettuce disease that shows as yellow patches on top with gray/purple growth underneath).

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during peak growth, and what soil moisture level is best?

During the main growing phase, keep the soil consistently evenly moist—aim for dampness throughout the top 2–3 inches rather than letting it dry out then soak. Water about 2–3 times per week in part-sun gardens, increasing to more frequent light watering during heat or windy spells to prevent leaf edge browning and bitterness. Mulch lightly after seedlings establish to stabilize moisture without waterlogging the shallow lettuce roots.

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

Harvest when heads/rosettes reach their expected size for your spacing and the outer leaves are fully expanded with crisp texture. For leaf lettuce types, start picking outer leaves once they’re large enough to use and still tender, usually around 60–70 days from sowing; avoid waiting until the plant bolts. If you see a central flower stalk forming or leaves turn very bitter, harvest immediately to prevent further quality loss.