Waldmann's Dark Green

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Waldmann's Dark Green to a garden.

Crisp, cool, and richly green from the first harvest—Waldmann's Dark Green loose-leaf lettuce forms tender leaves with a deep, velvety sheen and a pleasantly sweet, garden-fresh flavor.

The texture is delightfully crunchy yet never tough, with frilly edges that catch the light and hold their shape in the salad bowl. Grow it for repeat cuttings at about 45 days, and enjoy its lush foliage as the star of fresh greens, brightened with simple dressings and garnishes.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Waldmann's Dark Green

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Waldmann's Dark Green 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 16th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Jul 9th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 3rd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jun 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jun 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jun 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jun 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	May 25th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	May 16th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	May 7th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	Apr 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Mar 26th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	45
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

Waldmann's Dark Green gives you that prized loose-leaf crunch—tender enough to chew right away, but structured so it doesn’t slump in the bowl. It’s sweet and cool with a faint bitter edge, so bright citrus dressings and salty cheeses make it taste like spring in every bite.

Best Uses

repeat-cut salad greens where the leaves stay crisp after tossing
simple vinaigrette salads that benefit from its frilly structure
chopped lettuce for wraps and sandwiches that need crunch without toughness
quick cool-down topping for warm proteins (dress at the last second)

Flavor Profile

pleasantly sweet, garden-fresh cool, crisp snap tender yet sturdy leaves with a velvety sheen light, clean bitterness on the finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette balsamic glaze feta cheese goat cheese hard-boiled egg grilled chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

Lactuca sativa (Waldmann's Dark Green) — how do I prevent and treat downy mildew or lettuce leaf rot?

Downy mildew on lettuce shows as pale yellow patches on top leaves with a gray-purple fuzzy growth underneath; leaf rot turns leaves soft and water-soaked, especially in damp, crowded plants. Improve airflow by thinning to the recommended spacing and water at soil level (not on leaves). If you see early symptoms, remove affected leaves immediately, keep foliage dry, and avoid re-wetting for the next day; for home gardens, an approved protectant fungicide labeled for lettuce downy mildew can be used according to label directions.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during its main growing phase (around weeks 2–6)?

During active leaf growth, keep the soil consistently evenly moist to a depth of about 1–2 inches, aiming for “moist but not soggy.” Water when the top inch of soil starts to feel slightly dry, typically every 1–3 days depending on heat and container vs. ground conditions. Avoid letting the soil swing from very dry to very wet, which can contribute to bitter flavor and bolting in lettuce (Lactuca sativa).

When is Waldmann's Dark Green ready to harvest, and how can I tell?

Harvest at about 45 days when plants form a full, firm head/rosette typical for your sowing method and leaves are thick and deep green. You should be able to gently lift the plant and feel that it’s developed but not overly stretched; if you notice rapid height increase and early flower-stem formation, it’s past prime for tender leaves. Harvest in the cool part of the day, cutting at the base (or harvesting outer leaves if you’re doing successive harvests).