Mottistone

Lettuce

55d to harvest

Unfurl Mottistone and savor its unmistakable, garden-bright charm: crisp, broad leaves with a mottled, buttery-green base brushed in soft, creamy highlights. The texture is satisfyingly crunchy and tender at once, holding a fresh bite that shines in salads and as a vivid bed for garnishes. With its Batavian breadth and steady, 55-day pace to maturity, Mottistone rewards home gardeners with a generous harvest and an elegant, showy look in the row.

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Apr 17th
Last Frost	May 15th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	May 15th
Harvest Begins	Jul 9th
Harvest Ends	Sep 24th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common pest or disease problem for Lactuca sativa (leaf/batavian-type lettuce), and how do I control it?

A frequent issue is lettuce downy mildew, which shows as pale yellow patches on the top of leaves with a gray-purple mold on the underside. Improve airflow (don’t crowd plants), water at the soil line in the morning, and avoid wet foliage; remove and discard infected plants early to slow spread. If problems persist, use an appropriate fungicide labeled for lettuce downy mildew and restart with fresh seed if you notice repeated outbreaks.

During the main growing phase, how often should I water Lactuca sativa so it stays crisp and doesn’t go bitter?

For Lactuca sativa, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist, not soggy, to support steady leaf growth and prevent tip-burn and bitterness. In warm weather, this usually means watering deeply 2–4 times per week, increasing frequency if the soil dries quickly under part-sun conditions. Mulch lightly after plants establish to reduce moisture swings, because lettuce reacts fast to drying out.

How can I tell when mottistone lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads/leaves reach their expected size for your spacing and the leaves are firm and fully colored, typically around 55 days from sowing. For leaf harvest, pick outer leaves when they’re large enough to eat and leave the center to continue producing. If you see rapid stem elongation (bolting) or the leaves become noticeably more bitter and loose, harvest immediately.