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When to Plant Lettuce in Crittenden County, AR

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.

Crittenden County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost is November 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 229 days.

At an elevation of 808 feet, Crittenden County receives approximately 45.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season.

Crittenden County, AR (Zone 7b) Long season
229 days
Last Spring Frost March 21
229 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5

Crittenden County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (126 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Mar 14 🍅 Harvest: Apr 18 – Jun 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (124 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: Apr 25 – Jul 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (125 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 23

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
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 423 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Lettuce needs ~889 GDD — county provides 4,522 GDD Excellent fit

Lettuce Planting Timeline โ€” Crittenden County, AR

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 14 Feb 14 โ€“ Feb 28
Transplant Outdoors March 21 Mar 21 โ€“ Apr 4
Direct Sow March 7 Mar 7 โ€“ Mar 28
Fall Sowing August 27 Aug 27 โ€“ Sep 10
Harvest April 25 Apr 25 โ€“ Jul 4

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

30โ€“60 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 7b

Growing Season

229 days

Growing Tips for Crittenden County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Celery

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ Save Your Own Lettuce Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Let plants bolt and flower. Harvest seed heads when fluffy.
Storage Store airtight; viable 6 years at 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

Very easy to save. Let a few plants bolt each season.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lettuce in Crittenden County, AR?

Crittenden County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 21. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Crittenden County, AR?

Crittenden County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 21 and first fall frost is November 5.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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