Cool-Season Vegetable

When to Plant Lettuce

Fast-growing and forgiving. Plant in spring and fall for a nearly year-round supply of fresh salad greens.

Sun

Partial to full sun (4-6 hours)

Water

1 inch per week

Days to Harvest

30-60

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

Frost Tolerance

moderate

The Short Answer

Lettuce are cold-tolerant and actually prefer cooler growing conditions. You can direct sow seeds 4 weeks before your last frost date — one of the earliest crops you can plant. Or start seeds indoors 4 weeks before your last frost for an even earlier harvest. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Lettuce

Lettuce is the fastest path from seed to salad — leaf varieties can be harvested in as few as 30 days. The cut-and-come-again method (cutting outer leaves at 1 inch above the crown) produces multiple harvests from a single planting. Succession plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous supply. Heat is lettuce's enemy: anything above 80°F triggers bolting, and bolted lettuce tastes bitter. Shade cloth, afternoon shade from taller plants, and mulch all extend the season. Butterhead varieties are the most heat-tolerant; romaine is intermediate; crisphead (iceberg) bolts fastest.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Begin lettuce seeds indoors 4 weeks before your average last frost date. Seeds need soil temperatures of at least 40°F to germinate, which typically takes 2-8 days. Provide 12 hours of light per day using a south-facing window or grow lights.

Transplanting

Move seedlings outside 2 weeks before your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 40°F. Harden off seedlings for 5 days before transplanting by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.

Direct Sowing

Lettuce can be direct sown 4 weeks before your last frost date. Plant seeds 0.125" deep, spaced 8" apart.

Fall Planting

Lettuce are planted in fall, 8 weeks before your average first frost date. Plant 0.125" deep, 8" apart.

Growing Tips

Succession plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Shade cloth extends the season into warmer months.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Carrots Radishes Strawberries Chives

Lettuce Planting Dates by State

Click your state for lettuce planting dates specific to your location:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026