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When to Plant Celtuce in Calloway County, KY

Celtuce (stem lettuce) is a Chinese vegetable grown for its thick, crunchy stem rather than its leaves. The peeled stem has a mild, cucumber-like flavor.

Calloway County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 207 days.

At an elevation of 2,755 feet, Calloway County receives approximately 42 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celtuce during the growing season.

Calloway County, KY (Zone 7a) Long season
207 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
207 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29

Calloway County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jul 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Jul 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (105 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Jul 31

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Celtuce needs ~1,481 GDD — county provides 4,088 GDD Excellent fit

Celtuce Planting Timeline โ€” Calloway County, KY

Celtuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 1 Mar 1 โ€“ Mar 15
Transplant Outdoors April 5 Apr 5 โ€“ Apr 19
Direct Sow March 22 Mar 22 โ€“ Apr 12
Fall Sowing August 20 Aug 20 โ€“ Sep 3
Harvest June 7 Jun 7 โ€“ Jul 19

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 7a

Growing Season

207 days

Growing Tips for Calloway County

Direct sow in spring or start indoors. Space 12 inches apart. Harvest when stems are about 1 inch in diameter. Peel the tough outer skin to reveal the tender center.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celtuce in Calloway County, KY?

Calloway County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Celtuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Calloway County, KY?

Calloway County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 29.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Calloway County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Calloway County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.