When to plant Lettuce

The planting dates depend on your average frost dates. Enter a ZIP code to get yours, or read the USDA table below.

Earliest safe spring planting dates: leaf lettuce
Average last freezePlant
Jan 30Jan 1 – Feb 1
Feb 8Jan 1 – Feb 1
Feb 18Jan 1 – Mar 15
Feb 28Jan 1 – Mar 15
Mar 10Jan 15 – Apr 1
Mar 20Feb 1 – Apr 1
Mar 30Feb 15 – Apr 15
Apr 10Mar 15 – May 15
Apr 20Mar 20 – May 15
Apr 30Apr 1 – June 1
May 10Apr 15 – June 15
May 20May 1 – June 30
May 30May 10 – June 30
June 10May 20 – June 30
Latest safe fall planting dates: leaf lettuce
Average first freezePlant by
Aug 30May 15 – July 15
Sept 10May 15 – July 15
Sept 20June 1 – Aug 1
Sept 30June 1 – Aug 1
Oct 10July 15 – Sept 1
Oct 20July 15 – Sept 1
Oct 30Aug 15 – Oct 1
Nov 10Aug 25 – Oct 1
Nov 20Sept 1 – Nov 1
Nov 30Sept 1 – Dec 1
Dec 10Sept 15 – Dec 31
Dec 20Sept 15 – Dec 31

Source: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5. The bulletin scan.

Lettuce by state