How to Grow Bibb
Lactuca sativa 'Bibb'
Bibb lettuce is a beloved heirloom variety prized for its tender, buttery leaves and sweet flavor. Gardeners grow it to enjoy crisp salads during cool weather, appreciating its compact size and ability to thrive in partial shade or full sun with consistent moisture.
📷 Wikipedia: LettuceStarting Bibb: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Bibb is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors rather than starting indoors, planting them 2-6 weeks before the last frost date.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Sow seeds directly outdoors 2-6 weeks before your last spring frost date, as this cool-season crop tolerates light frosts. Press seeds lightly into the soil at a depth of about 1/4 inch. Expect germination to occur within 7 to 10 days under these conditions.
Space plants 8 to 10 inches apart to ensure proper air circulation and head formation. Provide consistent moisture, aiming for one inch of water per week to prevent stress. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Feed sparingly if growth slows, but avoid high nitrogen late in the season.
Watch for aphids, slugs, cutworms, and flea beetles; use row covers or hand-pick pests early. Prevent tipburn by avoiding heat stress and ensuring even watering to manage downy mildew and lettuce drop. Harvest outer leaves when the plant is 55-60 days old, cutting them close to the base for a continuous supply of fresh greens.
When to Plant Bibb
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Bibb
✓ Good companions
Different root depths allow efficient space use without competition
Repels aphids and improves lettuce flavor
Attracts beneficial insects that prey on lettuce pests
Repels aphids and slugs that commonly damage lettuce
Deters aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Acts as trap crop for flea beetles and loosens soil
Similar growing conditions and harvest times
✗ Keep away from
Heavy feeder that competes for nutrients and can shade lettuce
Competes for similar nutrients and can harbor carrot fly larvae
Allelopathic compounds inhibit lettuce germination and growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
