Best Lettuce & Salad Greens to Grow in Iowa
Iowa sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 5. These 52 lettuce varieties are suited to Iowa's 155-day growing season with last frost around April 30 and first frost around October 5.
Varieties
52
for Iowa
USDA Zone
5
155-day season
Beginner
27
easy to grow
Heirloom
31
heritage varieties
Iowa in USDA Zone 5
Iowa is primarily in Zone 5. Varieties that thrive in this zone will typically grow well across the state, though local microclimates vary.
When to Plant Lettuce & Salad Greens in Iowa
Growing Lettuce & Salad Greens in Iowa
Zone 5 offers an excellent balance for lettuce growing – long enough seasons to get multiple harvests, but cool enough springs and falls to grow quality greens without immediate bolting. Your 155-day growing season from late April through early October is actually ideal for lettuce, since these crops prefer cooler weather and can struggle in the intense heat of longer growing zones. The key challenge you'll face is timing your plantings to avoid the summer heat slump when most lettuce varieties become bitter and bolt to seed.
When selecting varieties for Zone 5, focus on heat-tolerant types for summer growing and bolt-resistant cultivars that can handle temperature swings. Look for varieties that mature quickly (45-60 days) so you can succession plant every 2-3 weeks throughout the season. The varieties listed here have been chosen specifically for their performance in Zone 5 conditions – from cold-hardy spring starters like Buttercrunch and Romaine Cos, to heat-tolerant summer performers like Red Sails and Salanova types, plus excellent fall varieties that can handle light frosts.
Variety Comparison
| Variety ↑ | Days | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Arugula | 10-15 | Easy |
| Australian Yellow Leaf | 50-60 | Moderate |
| Batavia | 55-65 | Easy to Moderate |
| Bibb | 55-60 | Moderate |
| Black Seeded Simpson | 40-50 | Easy |
| Buttercrunch | 55-65 | Easy to Moderate |
| Buttercrunch Bibb | 65-75 | Easy |
| Butterhead Boston | 55-65 | Easy |
| Canasta | 65-75 | Easy to moderate |
| Cimmaron Romaine | 55-65 | Easy to Moderate |
| Coastal Star | 60-70 | Easy to Moderate |
| Concept | 50-60 | Easy |
| Crisp Mint Romaine | 55-65 | Easy to Moderate |
| Deer Tongue | 45-55 | Easy |
| Freckles | 55-60 | Easy to Moderate |
| Grand Rapids | 45-55 | Very Easy |
| Great Lakes | 85-90 | Moderate |
| Green Leaf | 45-55 | Easy |
| Iceberg | 80-95 | Moderate to Challenging |
| Jericho | 60-70 | Easy to moderate |
| Little Gem | 55-65 | Easy |
| Lolla Rossa | 50-55 | Easy |
| Lollo Rosso | 50-65 | Easy to Moderate |
| Loose Leaf Green Grand Rapids | 45-55 | Easy |
| Mâche (Corn Salad) | 50 | Moderate |
| Mascara | 50-60 | Easy to moderate |
| Muir | 65-75 | Moderate |
| Nevada | 48-68 | Easy |
| New Red Fire | 55 | Easy |
| Oak Leaf | 45-50 | Easy |
| Paris Island Cos | 66-75 | Easy to Moderate |
| Parris Island Cos | 68-75 | Easy |
| Prizehead | 50-60 | Easy |
| Red Express Cos | 48-55 | Easy |
| Red Leaf Lettuce | 50 | Easy |
| Red Romaine | 70-80 | Easy |
| Red Sails | 45-55 | Easy |
| Red Salad Bowl | 50-60 | Easy |
| Red Velvet | 45-55 | Easy |
| Romaine Cos | 70-85 | Moderate |
| Rouge d'Hiver | 55-65 | Moderate |
| Salad Bowl Green | 45-55 | Easy |
| Salanova Green Crispy | 55-65 | Easy to Moderate |
| Salanova Green Oakleaf | 55-65 | Easy to moderate |
| Salanova Red Butter | 50-55 | Easy to Moderate |
| Simpson Elite | 45-55 | Easy |
| Skyphos | 47 | Easy |
| Spinach | 25 | Easy to moderate |
| Summertime | 70-80 | Moderate |
| Tom Thumb | 45-55 | Easy |
| Tropicana | 52 | Easy |
| Waldmann's Green | 45-50 | Easy |
Variety Details
Arugula
Purple stems and dark-green leaves. Based on our yield trial, we recommend seeding 10 gm per tray at approx. 3 flats per oz of seed. Avg. days to maturity was 14 days when harvested at the first true leaf (as opposed to cotyledon) stage. Also available in organic seed.
Australian Yellow Leaf
A rare and striking heirloom from Australia featuring unique golden-yellow leaves that create a stunning contrast in the garden and on the plate. This heat-tolerant loose-leaf variety produces tender, mild-flavored leaves that maintain their distinctive color throughout the growing season. The unusual coloration comes from natural breeding, not genetic modification, making this a conversation-starting addition to any heirloom garden.
Batavia
A French heirloom variety that combines the best of both worlds with crispy outer leaves like romaine and tender inner hearts like butterhead. Known for its exceptional heat tolerance and resistance to bolting, making it perfect for summer growing when other lettuces fail. The large, substantial heads provide excellent crunch and mild flavor.
Bibb
A classic American butterhead lettuce developed in Kentucky, prized for its exceptionally tender leaves and sweet, delicate flavor. The small, compact heads form perfect individual serving sizes with butter-soft texture that melts in your mouth. This gourmet variety is favored by chefs and home gardeners who appreciate premium salad quality.
Black Seeded Simpson
An early producer of light green, curled, tender leaves. MT0-30.
Buttercrunch
Johnny's produces Buttercrunch lettuce using the original stock seed from Cornell University. Forms a small, open but tightly bunched, 6" rosette that is fan-shaped rather than round. Dark green leaves and small compact hearts that blanch to an appetizing yellow color. Crisp and sweet. MT0-30. USDA Certified Organic.
Buttercrunch Bibb
A premium butterhead lettuce that's been delighting gardeners for decades with its exceptional tenderness and sweet, buttery flavor. This variety forms perfect, compact heads with thick, succulent leaves that practically melt in your mouth. Heat-tolerant and bolt-resistant, Buttercrunch is ideal for gardeners who want restaurant-quality lettuce from their own backyard.
Butterhead Boston
A classic butterhead lettuce prized for its tender, buttery leaves and compact rosette formation. This reliable variety produces beautiful heads with soft, pale green outer leaves and a creamy yellow heart that's perfect for elegant salads. Boston lettuce is incredibly versatile and forgiving, making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
Canasta
A premium romaine lettuce bred for exceptional sweetness and crisp texture, with thick, sturdy leaves perfect for Caesar salads. This variety forms tall, upright heads with excellent heart formation and superior bolt resistance. Professional chefs and home gardeners alike prize Canasta for its consistent quality and outstanding flavor that rivals the best restaurant lettuce.
Cimmaron Romaine
A striking red romaine lettuce that brings vibrant color and exceptional crunch to any garden or salad bowl. This heat-tolerant variety produces tall, upright heads with deep burgundy-red outer leaves and crisp, sweet hearts that maintain their color even in warm weather. Cimmaron offers both visual appeal and outstanding flavor, making it a favorite among gardeners who want something special.
Coastal Star
An exceptional heat-tolerant romaine lettuce specifically bred for challenging growing conditions and extended seasons. This variety produces tall, crisp heads with outstanding bolt resistance and the ability to maintain sweet flavor even in warm weather when other lettuces turn bitter. Coastal Star is a game-changer for gardeners in hot climates who thought they couldn't grow quality lettuce in summer.
Concept
A premium loose-leaf lettuce that produces an abundance of deeply lobed, oak-shaped leaves with exceptional heat tolerance and slow bolting characteristics. This variety offers continuous harvest potential throughout the growing season, with leaves that maintain their tender texture and mild flavor even in challenging weather. Concept is perfect for gardeners who want a reliable, productive lettuce that keeps giving all season long.
Crisp Mint Romaine
A premium romaine variety bred for exceptional crispness and sweet flavor, living up to its name with refreshingly tender leaves that stay crisp even in summer heat. This modern hybrid combines the best traits of traditional romaine with improved bolt resistance and uniform head formation. The compact size makes it perfect for small gardens while delivering restaurant-quality lettuce for gourmet salads.
Deer Tongue
An heirloom with unique, narrow, tongue-shaped leaves. Pointed, buttery leaves have a crunchy rib and excellent flavor. Slow to bolt. MT0-30. USDA Certified Organic.
Freckles
An eye-catching Austrian heirloom romaine lettuce adorned with distinctive red speckles scattered across bright green leaves like freckles on skin. This unique variety combines stunning visual appeal with excellent bolt resistance and sweet, tender flavor. A conversation starter that performs beautifully in both spring and fall gardens.
Grand Rapids
A time-tested heirloom loose-leaf lettuce that has been feeding families since 1888 and remains one of the most reliable varieties for beginning gardeners. Its deeply curled, bright green leaves are incredibly easy to grow and harvest, producing continuously when cut properly. This variety thrives in almost any condition and rarely bolts, making it perfect for hot climates and extended harvests.
Great Lakes
A classic crisphead lettuce that delivers the satisfying crunch of iceberg but with better heat tolerance and garden performance. This reliable variety forms dense, well-blanched heads with crisp, sweet leaves that stay fresh longer than most lettuce types. Perfect for gardeners who want that classic lettuce experience without the challenges of growing true iceberg varieties.
Green Leaf
A reliable, fast-growing loose-leaf lettuce that's perfect for beginners and continuous harvesting. The tender, ruffled green leaves provide mild, sweet flavor and can be harvested leaf by leaf for weeks of fresh salads. This heat-tolerant variety is ideal for succession planting throughout the growing season.
Iceberg
The quintessential American head lettuce that forms tight, dense heads of crisp, pale green leaves with unmatched crunch and refreshing flavor. While challenging to grow perfectly, successful heads reward gardeners with the ultimate salad lettuce that stays fresh for weeks and provides that signature satisfying crunch. This variety requires patience and proper timing but delivers restaurant-quality results when grown correctly.
Jericho
Attractive, fast-growing, bright green lettuce for baby leaf. Seed densely for narrower petioles and leaves. Sometimes grown as a full-size head. Tolerant to both heat and tipburn. MT0-30. USDA Certified Organic.
Little Gem
A compact British heirloom that combines the best qualities of romaine and butterhead lettuce in perfectly sized mini heads ideal for individual servings. These adorable 4-6 inch heads feature crispy outer leaves with sweet, tender hearts that make them perfect for grilling, Caesar salads, or elegant presentation. The space-saving size and quick maturity make Little Gem ideal for small gardens, containers, and succession planting.
Lolla Rossa
A stunning Italian heirloom loose-leaf lettuce that transforms any garden into a work of art with its deeply frilled, burgundy-red edges fading to bright green centers. This heat-tolerant beauty maintains excellent flavor even in warm weather, making it perfect for extended harvests. The dramatic color and texture make it as valuable for ornamental plantings as it is for the salad bowl.
Lollo Rosso
An Italian heirloom that brings European flair to the home garden with its spectacular burgundy-red frilly leaves and compact growth habit. This loose-leaf variety is prized by chefs worldwide for its beautiful appearance and slightly bitter, sophisticated flavor that adds complexity to salad mixes. The deeply curled leaves create an almost flower-like appearance, making it as ornamental as it is edible.
Loose Leaf Green Grand Rapids
A classic loose-leaf variety that's been a garden favorite since the 1800s, prized for its reliability and heat tolerance. This fast-growing lettuce produces abundant, frilly green leaves with excellent flavor and crisp texture. Perfect for continuous harvest and ideal for beginners who want guaranteed success.
Mâche (Corn Salad)
This versatile, vigorous, mildew-resistant variety is excellent at a time of year when greens become scarce. Long, oval, glossy green leaves form tight rosettes. Mild, slightly nutty flavor also reminiscent of roses. Also known as mâche, lamb's lettuce, and corn salad. Unsized seed.
Mascara
A stunning red oakleaf lettuce with deeply lobed leaves that transition from green to burgundy red at the tips. This European variety brings both beauty and flavor to the garden, with tender leaves that have a subtle nutty taste. The dramatic coloring intensifies in cool weather, making it perfect for fall gardens and adding visual interest to any salad.
Muir
A premium butterhead lettuce variety bred for superior heat tolerance and bolt resistance, making it perfect for extending the growing season into summer. This variety forms beautiful, dense heads with tender inner leaves and maintains its sweet flavor even as temperatures rise. A game-changer for gardeners in warm climates who struggle to grow lettuce in summer.
Nevada
A heat-warrior among lettuces, Nevada batavian was specifically bred to thrive in hot, challenging conditions where other varieties fail. This sturdy variety produces large, thick, savoy-textured leaves that stay sweet and crisp even in summer heat. The ultimate lettuce for gardeners in hot climates who thought they couldn't grow lettuce in summer.
New Red Fire
New Red Fire is relatively slow, but produces uniform, heavy heads of brightly colored, frilly leaves. MT0-30. Also available with NOP-compliant pelleting. USDA Certified Organic.
Oak Leaf
An elegant loose-leaf lettuce with distinctive deeply-lobed leaves that resemble oak tree foliage, adding visual interest to both garden and salad bowl. This heat-tolerant variety offers exceptional flavor with tender, buttery leaves that never become bitter, making it perfect for continuous harvest throughout the growing season. The unique leaf shape and reliable performance make it a favorite among both novice and experienced gardeners.
Paris Island Cos
The gold standard for romaine lettuce, this heat-tolerant variety produces tall, upright heads with crisp, dark green outer leaves and sweet, crunchy hearts. Developed for reliability in challenging conditions, Paris Island Cos consistently delivers the classic romaine experience that Caesar salad lovers crave. Its exceptional bolt resistance makes it perfect for extending the growing season into warmer months.
Parris Island Cos
The gold standard romaine lettuce that has been the backbone of American Caesar salads since 1952, developed specifically for hot, humid Southern growing conditions. This heat-tolerant variety produces tall, upright heads with thick, crunchy ribs and dark green outer leaves that blanch to creamy yellow hearts. Known for exceptional bolt resistance and reliable performance, it's the romaine that succeeds where others fail in challenging climates.
Prizehead
A stunning loose-leaf heirloom that's as beautiful as it is delicious, featuring large bronze-red tinged leaves that create a dramatic display in any garden. Dating back to the 1880s, this heat-tolerant variety produces abundantly in warm weather when other lettuces fail, making it indispensable for summer growing. The tender leaves have a mild flavor with just a hint of sweetness, perfect for adding color and nutrition to salads.
Red Express Cos
A fast-maturing romaine lettuce with striking red-tinged leaves that intensify in cool weather, creating a beautiful gradient from green to deep red. This variety combines the classic crisp texture and sweet flavor of romaine with ornamental appeal and quick harvest times. Perfect for impatient gardeners who want both beauty and speed in their lettuce patch.
Red Leaf Lettuce
Round to heart-shaped leaves are medium-green overlaid with burgundy red. Striking color on the undersides of the leaves. Cutting the top of the plant yields beautiful, multicolored rosettes that can be added to mixes. Comparable to spinach in flavor. Often used in soups.
Red Romaine
A stunning twist on classic romaine lettuce with deep burgundy-red leaves and contrasting green hearts. This beautiful variety offers the same crisp texture and sweet flavor as traditional romaine while adding dramatic color to salads and garden beds. Perfect for gardeners who want both visual appeal and exceptional taste.
Red Sails
Attractive, ruffled, fringed leaves of deep burgundy red over green. AAS Winner. MT0-30. USDA Certified Organic.
Red Salad Bowl
The stunning burgundy-red counterpart to the famous Green Salad Bowl, featuring the same deeply-lobed oak leaves but with gorgeous wine-red coloration that intensifies in cool weather. This loose-leaf variety provides continuous harvests while adding dramatic color contrast to salads and garden beds. The tender leaves maintain their sweet flavor even as the red pigmentation deepens with maturity.
Red Velvet
A stunning loose-leaf variety that brings dramatic burgundy-red color to the garden and gourmet appeal to the table with its deeply ruffled, almost frilly leaves. This heat-tolerant beauty maintains its vibrant coloration even in warm weather while delivering exceptional flavor with tender, sweet leaves that add both visual impact and culinary excellence to any salad mix. The combination of ornamental beauty and outstanding performance makes it a standout choice for edible landscaping.
Romaine Cos
The classic upright lettuce that forms tall, sturdy heads of dark green leaves with prominent white ribs and exceptional crunch. This traditional variety has been cultivated for over 2,000 years and remains the gold standard for Caesar salads and Mediterranean cuisine. Its robust structure and intense flavor make it indispensable for gardeners who want restaurant-quality lettuce at home.
Rouge d'Hiver
A stunning French heirloom romaine that translates to 'Red of Winter,' showcasing deep burgundy outer leaves with bright green hearts. This cold-hardy beauty not only survives frost but actually develops better color and sweeter flavor in cool weather. A must-grow for gardeners seeking both beauty and exceptional taste in their winter gardens.
Salad Bowl Green
An exceptional loose-leaf variety that won the All-America Selections award for its outstanding performance and unique deeply-lobed, oak-like leaves. This vigorous grower provides continuous harvests throughout the season and rarely bolts, making it perfect for cut-and-come-again harvesting. The frilly, decorative leaves add both beauty and nutrition to any garden or salad bowl.
Salanova Green Crispy
A revolutionary modern hybrid that transforms salad preparation with its innovative multi-leaf technology - one cut at the base yields perfectly sized, ready-to-eat leaves without waste. This compact variety produces dense heads packed with crispy, uniform leaves that maintain excellent texture and freshness longer than traditional lettuce types. Perfect for busy gardeners and commercial growers who want maximum efficiency and consistent results.
Salanova Green Oakleaf
A revolutionary multi-leaf lettuce that produces dozens of individual leaves from a single cut, eliminating tedious leaf-by-leaf harvesting. This innovative breeding breakthrough combines the classic oakleaf shape and mild flavor with incredible convenience – one head yields enough perfectly sized leaves for an entire salad. The compact, uniform plants are ideal for small gardens and containers while delivering restaurant-quality results.
Salanova Red Butter
A revolutionary multi-leaf lettuce that produces 16-20 individual leaves from a single cut, making harvest incredibly efficient and waste-free. The tender, red-tinged butterhead-type leaves offer premium texture and sweet flavor while the innovative breeding ensures every leaf is perfectly sized for salads. This modern variety combines convenience with gourmet quality.
Simpson Elite
An improved version of the classic Black Seeded Simpson, this loose-leaf lettuce offers exceptional heat tolerance and slower bolting. The bright green, deeply frilled leaves create a beautiful, productive plant that keeps producing tender leaves for weeks. Perfect for cut-and-come-again harvesting in warm weather when other lettuces struggle.
Skyphos
Beautiful large dark red heads with nicely contrasting green centers. Excellent flavor and texture. The surest heading of red butterheads. Utility Patent granted. MT0-30. Also available with NOP-compliant pelleting.
Spinach
Fast-growing medium-green leaves are smooth to slightly savoyed.
Summertime
The ultimate warm-weather lettuce that thrives when others bolt, producing crisp, sweet heads even in summer heat. This crisphead variety combines the satisfying crunch of iceberg with superior heat tolerance and better flavor. A game-changer for gardeners who want fresh lettuce year-round in warmer climates.
Tom Thumb
This adorable miniature butterhead forms perfect tennis ball-sized heads that are ideal for small spaces and single servings. Despite its tiny stature, Tom Thumb delivers full-sized flavor with tender, sweet leaves and excellent heat tolerance. A charming heirloom that's perfect for container gardens, kids' gardens, and anyone who loves perfectly portioned individual salads.
Tropicana
Plants produce full heads with heavy leaves. Tolerant to tipburn. MT0-30. Also available in organic seed or seed with NOP-compliant pelleting.
Waldmann's Green
A legendary loose-leaf lettuce variety developed specifically for winter greenhouse growing but equally excellent in outdoor gardens. Known for its exceptional cold tolerance and ability to produce tender, dark green leaves even in challenging conditions. This reliable variety has been a favorite among both commercial and home growers for decades.
Zone 5 Growing Tips for Iowa
Start your first lettuce seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date (around mid to late March for Zone 5), then transplant seedlings outside 2-3 weeks before the last frost – lettuce can handle light frosts down to about 28°F. For direct seeding, wait until soil can be worked in early April, then plant every 2-3 weeks through mid-May. Skip planting from mid-June through mid-July when heat stress is highest, then resume succession planting in late July for fall harvests that will continue until hard frost.
Your biggest challenge will be the summer heat – even heat-tolerant varieties struggle when temperatures consistently hit 80°F+. Combat this with shade cloth (30-50%), consistent moisture, and choosing the right varieties. Focus on leaf lettuces and heat-tolerant varieties like Red Sails, Salanova types, and New Red Fire during summer months. For season extension, use row covers in early spring and late fall to push your season 3-4 weeks longer on both ends.