How to Grow Salanova Green Oakleaf
Lactuca sativa 'Salanova Green Oakleaf'
Salanova Green Oakleaf lettuce offers a compact, flavorful addition to cool-season gardens with its unique oak-shaped leaves. Gardeners prize this variety for its slow bolting and resistance to tip burn, making it ideal for extended harvests in spring or fall.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Salanova Green Oakleaf: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Salanova Green Oakleaf is not usually started indoors.
This variety is best direct-sown into the garden rather than started indoors, though seedlings can be moved carefully if necessary.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before sowing seeds directly outdoors 2-6 weeks before the last frost date. Press seeds lightly into the surface without covering them deeply, as they need light to germinate. Expect sprouting within 5 to 8 days under cool conditions.
Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart to ensure proper airflow and head formation. Water consistently to provide about one inch per week, keeping the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds without touching the leaves.
Monitor for aphids, slugs, and flea beetles; use row covers or hand-picking to manage these pests early. Watch for downy mildew and lettuce mosaic virus by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest outer leaves as needed or cut the whole head at 55-65 days after sowing.
When to Plant Salanova Green Oakleaf
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | April – 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 Salanova Green Oakleaf
✓ 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 commonly attack lettuce
Attracts ladybugs and parasitic wasps that control aphids on lettuce
Deters nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial predatory insects
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting lettuce
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on lettuce pests
Loosens soil for lettuce roots and deters flea beetles and aphids
Similar growing requirements and harvest times, efficient use of garden space
✗ Keep away from
Heavy feeder that competes aggressively for nitrogen and can shade delicate lettuce
Produces allelopathic chemicals that inhibit lettuce germination and growth
Releases juglone, a toxic compound that severely stunts or kills lettuce plants
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
