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When to Plant Lettuce in Grayson County, KY

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.

Grayson County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 205 days.

At an elevation of 1,089 feet, Grayson County receives approximately 40.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season.

Grayson County, KY (Zone 6b) Long season
205 days
Last Spring Frost April 6
205 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Grayson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (97 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: May 7 – Jul 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: May 11 – Jul 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Aug 5

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.

Soil Compatibility in Grayson County

How your county's soil matches Lettuce's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3โ€“6.8) overlaps with Lettuce's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Grayson County is excellent for Lettuce โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). Annual compost additions will help Lettuce.

How to Plant Lettuce

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Lettuce

8
successive plantings in your 205-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 29 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 19.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Lettuce needs ~788 GDD — county provides 3,587 GDD Excellent fit

Lettuce Planting Timeline โ€” Grayson County, KY

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 2 Mar 2 โ€“ Mar 16
Transplant Outdoors April 6 Apr 6 โ€“ Apr 20
Direct Sow March 23 Mar 23 โ€“ Apr 13
Fall Sowing August 19 Aug 19 โ€“ Sep 2
Harvest May 11 May 11 โ€“ Jul 20

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 Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

30โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

205 days in Grayson County

Growing Tips for Lettuce in Grayson County

Direct sow Lettuce outdoors after April 06 in Grayson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 205.0-day season in Grayson County allows multiple plantings of Lettuce. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Lettuce in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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.

Recommended Lettuce Varieties for Grayson County

Bolt-resistant varieties for warm summers โ€” grow as spring/fall crop

Jericho Muir Nevada New Red Fire

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 Grayson County, KY?

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

What planting zone is Grayson County, KY?

Grayson County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and first fall frost is October 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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