LawnWeather

When to plant lettuce

Start seeds indoors 6 weeks to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. Sow directly in the garden from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last spring frost. For a fall crop, sow 6 weeks to 8 weeks before the first fall frost. Bolts in summer heat; spring and fall crops are the reliable ones.

Half-hardy: takes a light frost.

Lettuce planting dates by state

CityStart indoorsPlant outsideFall crop
Birmingham, ALJan 19 – Feb 2Feb 16 – Mar 30Sep 22 – Oct 6
Tucson, AZDec 22 – Jan 5Jan 19 – Mar 2Oct 23 – Nov 6
Little Rock, ARJan 21 – Feb 4Feb 18 – Apr 1Sep 13 – Sep 27
Sacramento, CADec 14 – Dec 28Jan 11 – Feb 22—
Denver, COFeb 28 – Mar 14Mar 28 – May 9Aug 18 – Sep 1
Hartford, CTFeb 12 – Feb 26Mar 12 – Apr 23Sep 7 – Sep 21
Wilmington, DEFeb 6 – Feb 20Mar 6 – Apr 17Sep 17 – Oct 1
Washington, DCJan 29 – Feb 12Feb 26 – Apr 9Sep 18 – Oct 2
Jacksonville, FLNov 29 – Dec 13Dec 27 – Feb 7—
Atlanta, GAJan 11 – Jan 25Feb 8 – Mar 22Sep 25 – Oct 9
Boise, IDFeb 23 – Mar 9Mar 23 – May 4Aug 22 – Sep 5
Chicago, ILFeb 9 – Feb 23Mar 9 – Apr 20Sep 12 – Sep 26
Indianapolis, INFeb 13 – Feb 27Mar 13 – Apr 24Sep 6 – Sep 20
Des Moines, IAFeb 24 – Mar 10Mar 24 – May 5Sep 3 – Sep 17
Wichita, KSFeb 14 – Feb 28Mar 14 – Apr 25Sep 3 – Sep 17
Louisville, KYFeb 9 – Feb 23Mar 9 – Apr 20Sep 8 – Sep 22
New Orleans, LANov 28 – Dec 12Dec 26 – Feb 6—
Portland, MEFeb 26 – Mar 12Mar 26 – May 7Sep 7 – Sep 21
Baltimore, MDJan 29 – Feb 12Feb 26 – Apr 9Sep 23 – Oct 7
Boston, MAFeb 6 – Feb 20Mar 6 – Apr 17Sep 20 – Oct 4
Detroit, MIFeb 25 – Mar 11Mar 25 – May 6Sep 12 – Sep 26
Minneapolis, MNFeb 26 – Mar 12Mar 26 – May 7Aug 29 – Sep 12
Jackson, MSJan 3 – Jan 17Jan 31 – Mar 14Sep 18 – Oct 2
Kansas City, MOFeb 12 – Feb 26Mar 12 – Apr 23Sep 3 – Sep 17
Billings, MTMar 5 – Mar 19Apr 2 – May 14Aug 19 – Sep 2
Omaha, NEFeb 23 – Mar 9Mar 23 – May 4Aug 26 – Sep 9
Las Vegas, NVDec 11 – Dec 25Jan 8 – Feb 19—
Manchester, NHMar 1 – Mar 15Mar 29 – May 10Aug 24 – Sep 7
Newark, NJFeb 4 – Feb 18Mar 4 – Apr 15Sep 17 – Oct 1
Albuquerque, NMFeb 18 – Mar 4Mar 18 – Apr 29Sep 3 – Sep 17
New York City, NYFeb 3 – Feb 17Mar 3 – Apr 14Sep 27 – Oct 11
Charlotte, NCJan 31 – Feb 14Feb 28 – Apr 11Sep 15 – Sep 29
Fargo, NDMar 15 – Mar 29Apr 12 – May 24Aug 15 – Aug 29
Columbus, OHFeb 19 – Mar 5Mar 19 – Apr 30Sep 7 – Sep 21
Oklahoma City, OKFeb 3 – Feb 17Mar 3 – Apr 14Sep 10 – Sep 24
Portland, ORJan 12 – Jan 26Feb 9 – Mar 23Sep 30 – Oct 14
Philadelphia, PAFeb 3 – Feb 17Mar 3 – Apr 14Sep 21 – Oct 5
Providence, RIFeb 10 – Feb 24Mar 10 – Apr 21Sep 10 – Sep 24
Columbia, SCJan 12 – Jan 26Feb 9 – Mar 23Sep 28 – Oct 12
Sioux Falls, SDMar 3 – Mar 17Mar 31 – May 12Aug 16 – Aug 30
Nashville, TNFeb 6 – Feb 20Mar 6 – Apr 17Sep 9 – Sep 23
Dallas, TXDec 26 – Jan 9Jan 23 – Mar 6Oct 8 – Oct 22
Salt Lake City, UTFeb 10 – Feb 24Mar 10 – Apr 21Aug 31 – Sep 14
Burlington, VTFeb 25 – Mar 11Mar 25 – May 6Sep 6 – Sep 20
Virginia Beach, VAJan 14 – Jan 28Feb 11 – Mar 25Oct 1 – Oct 15
Seattle, WAJan 15 – Jan 29Feb 12 – Mar 26Sep 20 – Oct 4
Charleston, WVFeb 24 – Mar 10Mar 24 – May 5Sep 7 – Sep 21
Milwaukee, WIFeb 27 – Mar 13Mar 27 – May 8Sep 6 – Sep 20
Cheyenne, WYMar 18 – Apr 1Apr 15 – May 27Aug 10 – Aug 24

Not your city? Every city planting calendar lists all 19 vegetables.

Helpful gear

Seed starting kitTrays with humidity domes for starting seeds indoors.See options on AmazonLED grow lightKeeps indoor seedlings short and sturdy.See options on AmazonFrost clothCovers tender plants on a surprise frost night.See options on Amazon

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