When to plant lettuce
Lettuce tolerates light frost, so start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before your last frost; transplant from 2 weeks before the last frost up to the frost date; for a fall crop, sow 6–8 weeks before the first fall frost. Plant when the soil is at least 40°F.
Lettuce dates for Columbus, Ohio (example)
Example dates. Enter your ZIP above for your own.
| Start indoors | Mar 9–23 |
|---|---|
| Transplant outside | Apr 6–20 |
| Sow outdoors | Mar 23 – Apr 20 |
| Sow for fall harvest | Aug 29 – Sep 12 |
| Last planting for a harvest before frost | Sep 1 |
| Soil temperature | 40°F or warmer |
| Days to harvest | 45–60 |
| Spacing | 6–12 in apart |
Your lettuce year
- Start indoors
- Transplant outside
- Sow outdoors
- Sow for fall harvest
Average last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 24.
Growing tips for lettuce
- Lettuce bolts and turns bitter once days get long and hot; sow small batches every two weeks.
- Seed germinates poorly above about 80°F soil, so start fall lettuce in shade or indoors.
- Loose-leaf types can be cut again and again; heads are one harvest.
Work out indoor sowing for everything at once with the seed starting calculator.
For a steady harvest, sow every 2 weeks: see the succession planting calculator.
When to plant lettuce in major cities
Calculated from each city's NOAA 1991–2020 average frost dates.
| City | Zone | Transplant | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 7b | Mar 16–30 | Sep 25 – Oct 9 |
| Chicago, IL | 6b | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | Sep 10–24 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 10b | Jan 11–25 | Oct 20 – Nov 3 |
| Houston, TX | 9b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Oct 30 – Nov 13 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 10a | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Nov 8–22 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 7b | Mar 16–30 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Dallas, TX | 8b | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Oct 4–18 |
| Atlanta, GA | 8a | Mar 10–24 | Sep 13–27 |
| Seattle, WA | 9a | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Denver, CO | 6a | Apr 16–30 | Aug 17–31 |
| Boston, MA | 7a | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Sep 14–28 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 5a | Apr 9–23 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Kansas City, MO | 6b | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Sep 7–21 |
| Nashville, TN | 7b | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Sep 5–19 |
| Portland, OR | 9a | Feb 11–25 | Oct 6–20 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 7b | Mar 17–31 | Sep 13–27 |
| Columbus, OH | 6b | Apr 6–20 | Aug 29 – Sep 12 |
| Charlotte, NC | 8a | Mar 16–30 | Sep 8–22 |
| Detroit, MI | 6b | Apr 7–21 | Sep 5–19 |
| Raleigh, NC | 8a | Mar 14–28 | Sep 13–27 |
Lettuce planting FAQ
When should I plant lettuce?
Lettuce tolerates light frost, so start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before your last frost; transplant from 2 weeks before the last frost up to the frost date; for a fall crop, sow 6–8 weeks before the first fall frost. Plant when the soil is at least 40°F.
How many days until lettuce is ready to harvest?
Most lettuce varieties take about 45–60 days from sowing. Check the seed packet: early varieties are at the low end.
Can lettuce survive frost?
A light frost, yes; a hard freeze below about 28°F can damage them. Cover young plants on very cold nights.
How far apart should I plant lettuce?
Space lettuce 6–12 in apart.
What is the last date I can plant lettuce?
Count the variety's days to maturity back from your first fall frost, allowing a week or two extra because lettuce tolerates light frost. Enter your ZIP code on this page and Seasonwise calculates the date for you.
Ask about growing lettuce
Enter your ZIP above first and answers will use your local frost dates. Written by an AI model; double-check anything important.