How to Grow Salad Bowl Green
Lactuca sativa 'Salad Bowl'
Salad Bowl Green is a reliable cool-season lettuce variety prized for its crisp leaves and rapid growth in moderate temperatures. Gardeners grow it to enjoy fresh harvests before summer heat triggers bitterness or bolting, making it ideal for spring and fall gardens across diverse zones.
📷 Wikipedia: LettuceStarting Salad Bowl Green: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Salad Bowl Green is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in prepared beds; do not start indoors or transplant seedlings as lettuce roots are delicate and dislike disturbance.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0, as lettuce thrives in slightly acidic to neutral conditions. Sow seeds directly outdoors 2-6 weeks before your last expected frost date, since this cool-season crop tolerates light frosts well. Press seeds lightly into the surface without covering them deeply; they typically germinate within 7 to 14 days under cool soil temperatures.
Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart to ensure proper air circulation and head formation. Lettuce does not require support or trellising, but keep soil consistently moist with about 1 to 1.5 inches of water weekly. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, while avoiding heavy feeding that might encourage tough growth.
Watch for aphids, leaf miners, slugs, and snails; use hand-picking or organic sprays early. Prevent downy mildew and bottom rot by ensuring good airflow and watering at the soil level rather than overhead. Harvest outer leaves when plants are 45 to 55 days old, cutting them just above the base for a continuous supply of tender greens.
When to Plant Salad Bowl Green
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 Salad Bowl Green
✓ Good companions
Loosens soil for lettuce roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Repels aphids and improves lettuce flavor and growth
Attracts beneficial insects and may improve lettuce growth
Natural pest deterrent that repels aphids and slugs
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and other pests that attack lettuce
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Compatible growth habits and helps repel some leaf-eating pests
Breaks up soil and deters flea beetles that can damage lettuce
Similar growing requirements and helps maximize garden space
✗ Keep away from
Heavy feeder that competes with lettuce for nitrogen and space
Creates too much shade and competes heavily for water and nutrients
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
