Lettuce

Use our zone-based planting guide to know when to plant lettuce.

Plant name Zone Start seeds indoors Start seeds outdoors Plant seedlings/transplants outdoors Plant spacing # plants per person
Lettuce 3a April 1-15 On/around May 1; On/around July 15 On/around April 15; July 15-Aug. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 3b April 1-15 On/around May 1; On/around July 15 On/around April 15; July 15-Aug. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 4a April 1-15 On/around May 1; On/around July 15 On/around April 15; July 15-Aug. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 4b April 1-15 On/around May 1; On/around July 15 On/around April 15; July 15-Aug. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 5a March 1-15 On/around April 1; On/around Aug. 15 On/around March 15; Aug. 15-Sept. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 5b March 1-15 On/around April 1; On/around Aug. 15 On/around March 15; Aug. 15-Sept. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 6a March 1-15 On/around April 1; On/around Aug. 15 On/around March 15; Aug. 15-Sept. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 6b March 1-15 On/around April 1; On/around Aug. 15 On/around March 15; Aug. 15-Sept. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 7a March 1-15 On/around April 1; On/around Aug. 15 On/around March 15; Aug. 15-Sept. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 7b March 1-15 On/around April 1; On/around Aug. 15 On/around March 15; Aug. 15-Sept. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 8a Feb. 1-15 On/around Feb. 1; On/around Sept. 15 On/around Feb. 15; Sept. 15-Oct. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 8b Feb. 1-15 On/around Feb. 1; On/around Sept. 15 On/around Feb. 15; Sept. 15-Oct. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 9a Jan. 1-15 On/around Feb. 1; On/around Sept. 15 On/around Jan. 15; Sept. 15-Oct. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 9b Jan. 1-15 On/around Feb. 1; On/around Sept. 15 On/around Jan. 15; Sept. 15-Oct. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 10a Dec. 15-Jan. 1 On/around Feb. 1; On/around Sept. 15 On/around Jan. 1; Sept. 15-Oct. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 10b Dec. 15-Jan. 1 On/around Feb. 1; On/around Sept. 15 On/around Jan. 1; Sept. 15-Oct. 15
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 11a Not recommended December-March Not recommended
6-18 inches (depending on variety)
Lettuce 11b Not recommended December-March Not recommended
6-18 inches (depending on variety)

* Begin direct sowing 2 weeks before the last frost and plant again 8 weeks before the last frost for a fall harvest. Seeds can be started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Plant seedlings about a month before the last frost date and again 4-8 weeks before the first frost.