SproutSmart
SproutSmart™ Intelligent Garden Sowing

Bibb

Lettuce
Zone 11a Save Garden

Planting Schedule

Add Bibb to your garden to build a schedule and get reminders.
Botanical illustration of Bibb
55d to harvest

Sink your spoon into Bibb’s velvety, butter-soft leaves—tender, sweet, and delicately nutty with a fresh, clean snap. Forming compact, spoon-shaped heads in about 55 days, this butterhead lettuce delivers a lush, pale-green heart cradled by gently cupped outer leaves. Ideal for fresh salads and elegant platters, Bibb shines when you want a tender texture that stays crisp and inviting from garden to table.

Crop Dates

Growing note: In frost-free Zone 11a, grow this cool-season crop during the cooler dry season (October–February).
MilestoneDate
Start Indoors—
ClimateFrost-Free Climate
Transplant / Sow OutdoorsOct 1st
Harvest BeginsNov 25th
Harvest EndsFeb 28th

Crop Details

TraitValue
Days to Maturity55
Sun RequirementsPart SunPartial sun
Growth HabitRosette
Support NeededNone
Planting DepthNormal
Germination Temp (°F)70
Min Soil Temp (°F)45
Min Night Temp (°F)32
Harden Off (days)6

Today's Conditions

Outdoor planting for Bibb in Zone 11a typically begins around 2026-10-01. Wait until soil reaches at least 45°F before transplanting Bibb.

Garden Alerts

In frost-free Zone 11a, grow this cool-season crop during the cooler dry season (October–February).

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Frequently Asked Questions

My Bibb lettuce is developing pale, silvery patches and tiny black specks—could this be thrips, and what should I do?
Yes, thrips commonly cause silvery scarring and specks on lettuce leaves. Rinse plants with a strong spray of cool water, then apply insecticidal soap (especially under leaves) in the early morning and repeat every 5–7 days for at least 2 rounds. Remove badly infested leaves and keep weeds down, since thrips build up on nearby hosts.
How often should I water Bibb lettuce during the main growing phase?
During the main growth period, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch of water per week, split into 2–3 sessions if it’s hot or windy. Check by pushing a finger 1 inch into the soil: if it feels dry at that depth, water; if it stays cool and damp, hold off. Uneven moisture leads to bitter leaves and can trigger early bolting in Bibb.
Botanical illustration of Bibb

Sink your spoon into Bibb’s velvety, butter-soft leaves—tender, sweet, and delicately nutty with a fresh, clean snap. Forming compact, spoon-shaped heads in about 55 days, this butterhead lettuce delivers a lush, pale-green heart cradled by gently cupped outer leaves. Ideal for fresh salads and elegant platters, Bibb shines when you want a tender texture that stays crisp and inviting from garden to table.

Today's Conditions

Outdoor planting for Bibb in Zone 11a typically begins around 2026-10-01. Wait until soil reaches at least 45°F before transplanting Bibb.

Garden Alerts

In frost-free Zone 11a, grow this cool-season crop during the cooler dry season (October–February).

Sowing Tips

Soil Temperature

Direct sow or transplant when soil at planting depth holds 45°F for reliable germination and early growth.

Expert Note

For Bibb (butterhead) lettuce, keep seedlings cool and transplant into consistently moist soil as soon as nights are reliably above freezing to avoid bolting.