How to Grow Waldmann's Green
Lactuca sativa 'Waldmann's Green'
Waldmann's Green is an heirloom lettuce variety prized for its crisp texture and reliable performance in cool weather. Gardeners grow it to enjoy fresh salads early in the season or as a late-season crop, benefiting from its tolerance of light frost.
Starting Waldmann's Green: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Waldmann's Green is not usually started indoors.
This variety is best direct-sown into the garden rather than transplanted to avoid root disturbance.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.2 for optimal growth. As a cool-season crop, you should sow seeds directly outdoors or start them indoors two to six weeks before the last spring frost. Press seeds lightly into the soil at a depth of about one-quarter inch. Expect germination within five to ten days once conditions are right.
Space plants four to six inches apart to ensure good air circulation and head formation. While lettuce does not require trellising, keep the soil consistently moist with about one inch of water per week. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but avoid covering the leaves directly.
Watch for aphids, leafminers, cutworms, and slugs; use row covers or hand-picking to manage them early. Prevent downy mildew and tip burn by avoiding overhead watering and ensuring good airflow. Harvest outer leaves when the plant is young, or wait until 45-50 days after sowing for full heads.
When to Plant Waldmann's 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 Waldmann's Green
✓ Good companions
Deep roots don't compete with shallow lettuce roots, helps break up soil
Repels aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage lettuce
Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps
Natural fungicide properties, repels aphids and slugs
Repels nematodes and aphids, attracts beneficial insects
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, edible companion
Quick growth helps break up soil, acts as trap crop for flea beetles
Similar growing requirements, efficient use of garden space
✗ Keep away from
Heavy feeder that competes for nutrients, can shade out lettuce
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Allelopathic compounds inhibit lettuce germination and growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
