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When to Plant Lettuce in Grant County, KS

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.

Grant County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 179 days.

At an elevation of 1,096 feet, Grant County receives approximately 25.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season.

Grant County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
179 days
Last Spring Frost April 21
179 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Grant County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jul 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Aug 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Aug 17

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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 781 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Lettuce needs ~619 GDD — county provides 2,461 GDD Excellent fit

Lettuce Planting Timeline โ€” Grant County, KS

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Mar 31
Transplant Outdoors April 21 Apr 21 โ€“ May 5
Direct Sow April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 28
Fall Sowing August 8 Aug 8 โ€“ Aug 22
Harvest May 26 May 26 โ€“ Aug 4

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September โ€”
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 6a

Growing Season

179 days

Growing Tips for Grant 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 Grant County, KS?

Grant County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 21. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grant County, KS?

Grant County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and first fall frost is October 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Grant County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Grant County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.