Oakleaf Lettuce

Lactuca sativa var. crispa

EasyGrows in pots

Oakleaf lettuce is a cool-season vegetable with deeply indented, oak-shaped leaves that is one of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed in spring or fall.

Quick facts

Germination time: 7–10 days
Germination temperature: 13–18 °C55–64 °F
Sowing depth: 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in
Spacing between plants: 10–20 cm4–8 in
Days to maturity: 50–60 days from sowing
Sun: Full sun, partial shade

Safety for cats and dogs: not yet verified.

Compare with another seed How to grow it

By SeedBattle EditorsUpdated Oct 19, 2026

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01 · Overview

About oakleaf lettuce

Oakleaf lettuce is a type of lettuce with leaves shaped like oak leaves, meaning the edges are deeply indented. The ‘Green Oakleaf’ variety has green, deeply lobed leaves and is good for baby lettuce. Lettuce is a cool-season vegetable that grows best in the spring and fall. Oak-leaf types are among the slow-bolting or heat-resistant lettuces recommended for extending the season.

Growing details

Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost
Sow outdoors: 2–3 weeks before the last frost
Water: Moderate
Containers: Yes, 1.9 L or largerYes, 2 qt or larger
Height: 15–30 cm6–12 in
Spread: 15–30 cm6–12 in
Frost tolerance: Half-hardy (light frost)
Soil pH: pH 6.0–6.7
Life cycle: Not yet verified

Sowing timeline

When to sow oakleaf lettuce seeds

Counted from your area's average last spring frost date. Find yours from a local weather service or garden center, then count back or forward.

Start indoors6–8 weeks before the last frost

Sow outdoors2–3 weeks before the last frost

Germination time7–10 days

Days to maturity50–60 days from sowing

Germination temperature: 13–18 °C55–64 °F
Frost tolerance: Half-hardy (light frost)

02 · How to grow

How to grow oakleaf lettuce from seed

Sow seeds directly outdoors about two to three weeks before the last spring frost, at a depth of about ¼ to ½ inch (0.6 to 1.3 cm). One guide gives a timing of two weeks before the last frost for direct sowing. You can also start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost and transplant them later.

Seeds should sprout in about 7 to 10 days when kept at 55 to 65 °F (13 to 18 °C). Another seed company says lettuce germinates best below 70 °F (21 °C). Thin the seedlings to 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) apart, depending on the variety.

Grow oakleaf lettuce in full sun to partial shade. Mature plants reach about 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) tall and wide. Lettuce can also be grown in a container with a minimum volume of 2 quarts (1.9 L).

03 · Care

Caring for oakleaf lettuce

Keep the soil consistently moist, because lettuce has shallow roots and needs steady moisture for good flavor. Water frequently and lightly, and water in the morning so the leaves can dry before evening. Tipburn, a browning of the leaf edges, is most often caused by drought and by soil that is not kept evenly moist.

High temperatures of 70 to 80 °F (21 to 27 °C) combined with dry soil can cause plants to bolt, which makes the leaves bitter. Slow-bolting or heat-resistant types, such as oak-leaf types, are available for warm weather.

At a glance

How oakleaf lettuce compares with other vegetables

Worked out from the growing facts of the 79 seeds in Vegetables on SeedBattle.

Oakleaf Lettuce
Each of the other vegetables
Their average

See all vegetables

Germination timeSprouts sooner than average
7–10 days
Average for vegetables: 10 days, from 39 other seeds
Days to maturityMatures sooner than average
50–60 days from sowing
Average for vegetables: 65 days, from 17 other seeds
Germination temperatureCooler than average
13–18 °C55–64 °F
Average for vegetables: 23 °C73 °F, from 38 other seeds
Sowing depthShallower than average
6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in
Average for vegetables: 1 cm½ in, from 58 other seeds
Spacing between plantsCloser than average
10–20 cm4–8 in
Average for vegetables: 35 cm14 in, from 43 other seeds
HeightShorter than average
15–30 cm6–12 in
Average for vegetables: 94 cm3 ft, from 57 other seeds

04 · Problems

Common oakleaf lettuce problems

Aphids, armyworms, imported cabbage worms and loopers attack lettuce, and pest pressure is much greater on summer and fall crops than on spring crops. Damping-off is a serious disease of young seedlings. Slugs and snails may feed on the foliage.

05 · Harvest

Harvesting oakleaf lettuce

You can pick individual baby leaves when they are 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) long for a continuous harvest. Take the outer leaves first so the center leaves can keep growing. Leaf lettuce can be used once plants are 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm) tall. For a cut-and-come-again harvest, cut plants 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) tall, and they will regrow for a second cutting in two to three weeks.

06 · Storage

Storing oakleaf lettuce

Store harvested leaves in the coolest part of the refrigerator. Leaf lettuce can last up to four weeks if the leaves are dry when bagged. Leaf and butterhead types store for one to two weeks.

07 · Safety

Oakleaf Lettuce safety

The sap of lettuce plants can cause skin irritation (contact dermatitis) in some people, and the page rates this as low severity. Wear gloves or wash your skin if you handle cut stems or sap.

Oakleaf Lettuce questions

How long do oakleaf lettuce seeds take to germinate?

Lettuce seeds should emerge in about 7 to 10 days when kept at 55 to 65 °F (13 to 18 °C).

Can I grow oakleaf lettuce in a pot?

Yes. Lettuce can be grown in containers with a minimum volume of 2 quarts (1.9 L).

When should I plant oakleaf lettuce?

Sow seeds directly outdoors about two to three weeks before the last spring frost. You can also start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost.