Lettuce Planting Guide
Lettuce is a fast-growing cool-season green available in leaf, romaine, butterhead, and crisphead types. It is the foundation of salads and one of the easiest crops to grow.
Lactuca sativa · Vegetable · Asteraceae family · 30–60 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Lettuce Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Lettuce?
Lettuce Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Lettuce planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | Apr 18 | May 23 | May 30 | Jul 4 – Sep 12 |
| Zone 2b | Apr 10 | May 15 | May 22 | Jun 26 – Sep 4 |
| Zone 3a | Apr 3 | May 8 | May 15 | Jun 19 – Aug 28 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 29 | May 3 | May 10 | Jun 14 – Aug 23 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 25 | Apr 29 | May 6 | Jun 10 – Aug 19 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 20 | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 5 – Aug 14 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 21 | Apr 11 | Apr 25 | May 30 – Aug 8 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 14 | Apr 4 | Apr 18 | May 23 – Aug 1 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 6 | Mar 27 | Apr 10 | May 15 – Jul 24 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 27 | Mar 20 | Apr 3 | May 8 – Jul 17 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 18 | Mar 11 | Mar 25 | Apr 29 – Jul 8 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 11 | Mar 4 | Mar 18 | Apr 22 – Jul 1 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 1 | Feb 22 | Mar 8 | Apr 12 – Jun 21 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 21 | Feb 11 | Feb 25 | Apr 1 – Jun 10 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Feb 10 | Mar 17 – May 26 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 28 | Jan 4 | Jan 25 | Mar 1 – May 10 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 5 – Apr 16 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 5 – Apr 16 |
| Zone 11a | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 5 – Apr 16 |
| Zone 11b | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 5 – Apr 16 |
Why are some columns showing "—"?
Transplant shows "—" because Lettuce is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.
How to Plant Lettuce
🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Partial Shade (3-6 hours)
💧 Water
0.7"/week
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 7
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 2a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
30–60 days
One of the fastest crops — harvest in under a month!
👪 Plant Family
Asteraceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Asteraceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Lettuce
Lettuce matures in just 30–60 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 7 successive plantings by sowing every 3.4 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Lettuce
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Lettuce
Sow seeds directly every 2 weeks for continuous harvest. Provide afternoon shade in warm weather to delay bolting. Harvest in the morning for crispest leaves.
💧 Watering: Lettuce needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.
Saving Lettuce Seeds
Very easy to save. Let a few plants bolt each season.
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Level Up Your Garden
Lettuce by State
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Lettuce?
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) takes 30 to 60 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Lettuce grow in?
Lettuce can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Lettuce need?
Growing Lettuce requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.