How to Grow Mascara
Lactuca sativa 'Mascara'
Mascara lettuce is a cool-season leaf vegetable prized for its rapid growth and resistance to bolting in cooler temperatures. Gardeners value this variety for its ease of cultivation and ability to thrive from USDA Zone 2 up to Zone 11, making it an accessible choice for many home plots.
📷 Wikipedia: LettuceStarting Mascara: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
You can start seeds indoors four weeks before the last frost or sow directly outdoors during that same window.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before sowing seeds directly outdoors or starting them indoors. Sow the seeds about one inch deep since they germinate in seven to ten days. For best results, plant out seedlings two to six weeks before your last expected spring frost date.
Space plants eight to ten inches apart to ensure proper air circulation and head formation. Keep soil evenly moist with about one inch of water weekly; consistent moisture prevents bitterness. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain humidity, but avoid heavy feeding as lettuce is not a heavy feeder.
Watch for aphids, slugs, snails, and flea beetles, treating infestations with hand-picking or organic sprays. Prevent downy mildew by ensuring good airflow and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest outer leaves when the plant is mature, typically fifty to sixty days after sowing.
When to Plant Mascara
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 Mascara
✓ Good companions
Deep roots don't compete with shallow lettuce roots, and carrots help break up soil
Repels aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage lettuce
Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings that control lettuce pests
Natural pest deterrent that repels aphids and slugs that commonly attack lettuce
Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing pests away from lettuce
Quick-growing radishes help break up soil and can be harvested before lettuce needs full space
Similar growing conditions and shallow roots make them compatible companions
✗ Keep away from
Competes for nutrients and space, both being heavy feeders with similar root zones
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit germination and growth of lettuce
Can attract carrot flies and competes for similar nutrients in the same soil layer
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
