When to plant lettuce
Short answer
Plant lettuce about 3 weeks before your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Mar 25, starting seeds indoors about Mar 18. Enter your ZIP for your exact dates.
| Climate zone | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Dec 18 | Dec 25 | Feb 13 |
| Zone 2 | Jan 18 | Jan 25 | Mar 16 |
| Zone 3 | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | Apr 8 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 2 | Mar 9 | Apr 28 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 18 | Mar 25 | May 14 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 2 | Apr 9 | May 29 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 17 | Apr 24 | Jun 13 |
| Zone 8 | May 4 | May 11 | Jun 30 |
Higher climate-zone numbers are colder, so planting shifts later. Lettuce is a semi-hardy crop. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your exact zone and dates.
What sets the timing for lettuce
When to plant lettuce comes down to one date: your last spring frost. Lettuce is a semi-hardy crop, so it goes in about 3 weeks before your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Mar 25.
Give it a head start: sow seeds indoors about 4 weeks before your last spring frost (around Mar 18 in zone 5), then move seedlings out once conditions are right. From there it's roughly 50 days to harvest.
Because that anchor date moves with climate, plant-out for lettuce ranges from about Feb 17 in warm zone 3 to Apr 24 in cold zone 7. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for the exact dates in your zone.
What sets the timing
| Factor | Effect on timing |
|---|---|
| Frost anchor | Timing counts from your last spring frost |
| Hardiness | Lettuce is semi-hardy — it goes in before the last frost |
| Indoor start | Start seeds 4 weeks before your last spring frost |
| Days to harvest | About 50 days from planting to harvest |
| Climate zone | Higher (colder) zones push plant-out later; warmer zones let you start sooner |
| Soil & weather | Tolerates cool soil and light frost |
How lettuce compares
Plant-out date in a mid climate (zone 5), against an early hardy crop and a late tender one.
| Crop | Plant outside (zone 5) |
|---|---|
| Peas (hardy · plants early) | Mar 11 |
| Lettuce | Mar 25 |
| Tomatoes (tender · plants late) | Apr 29 |
Tips for growing lettuce
- Start lettuce early — it tolerates cool soil and a light frost, so you can plant before your last spring frost.
- Give lettuce a 4 weeks indoor head start under a bright light before transplanting.
- Count roughly 50 days from planting to harvest, and stagger sowings a few weeks apart for a longer picking window.
- Enter your ZIP in the calculator for lettuce dates tuned to your exact climate zone.
Your exact dates
Open the planting calendarOther crops
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant lettuce?
Plant lettuce about 3 weeks before your last spring frost. In a warmer zone 4 that's around Mar 9; in a colder zone 6, Apr 9.
When do I start lettuce seeds indoors?
Start lettuce seeds indoors about 4 weeks before your last frost, then transplant after the frost passes. That's roughly Apr 2 in zone 6.
How long until lettuce is ready to harvest?
About 50 days from planting until first harvest. In zone 6, lettuce planted around Apr 9 is typically ready near May 29.