Blog

When to Plant Lettuce in Florida

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.

Florida spans USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 8b, 9a, 9b (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.

Find Your County

Click your county for exact Lettuce planting dates based on your local frost dates.

Lettuce Planting Calendar for Florida

Zone 10a ~364 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 4 Dec 4 – Dec 18
Transplant Outdoors January 1 Jan 1 – Jan 15
Direct Sow December 11 Dec 11 – Jan 1
Fall Sowing November 5 Nov 5 – Nov 19
Harvest February 5 Feb 5 – Apr 16
Zone 10b ~364 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 4 Dec 4 – Dec 18
Transplant Outdoors January 1 Jan 1 – Jan 15
Direct Sow December 11 Dec 11 – Jan 1
Fall Sowing November 5 Nov 5 – Nov 19
Harvest February 5 Feb 5 – Apr 16
Zone 11a ~364 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 4 Dec 4 – Dec 18
Transplant Outdoors January 1 Jan 1 – Jan 15
Direct Sow December 11 Dec 11 – Jan 1
Fall Sowing November 5 Nov 5 – Nov 19
Harvest February 5 Feb 5 – Apr 16
Zone 8b ~276 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 25 · First frost: November 28 · 276 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 21 Jan 21 – Feb 4
Transplant Outdoors February 25 Feb 25 – Mar 11
Direct Sow February 11 Feb 11 – Mar 4
Fall Sowing September 19 Sep 19 – Oct 3
Harvest April 1 Apr 1 – Jun 10
Zone 9a ~303 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 10 · First frost: December 10 · 303 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 13 Jan 13 – Jan 27
Transplant Outdoors February 10 Feb 10 – Feb 24
Direct Sow January 20 Jan 20 – Feb 10
Fall Sowing October 15 Oct 15 – Oct 29
Harvest March 17 Mar 17 – May 26
Zone 9b ~329 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 25 · First frost: December 20 · 329 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 28 Dec 28 – Jan 11
Transplant Outdoors January 25 Jan 25 – Feb 8
Direct Sow January 4 Jan 4 – Jan 25
Fall Sowing October 25 Oct 25 – Nov 8
Harvest March 1 Mar 1 – May 10

Growing Tips for Florida

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lettuce in Florida?

Planting dates for Lettuce in Florida depend on your USDA zone. Florida spans zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Florida for planting?

Florida contains USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals, University Cooperative Extension planting guides. Last updated: April 2026.