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When to Plant Lettuce in Davie County, NC

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.

Davie County, North Carolina is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 203 days.

At an elevation of 819 feet, Davie County receives approximately 43.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Lettuce, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot.

Davie County, NC (Zone 7a) Long season
203 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
203 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29

Davie County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – Jul 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (95 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Aug 6

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
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 226 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 4,009 GDD Excellent fit

Lettuce Planting Timeline โ€” Davie County, NC

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 โ€“ Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 23
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 16
Fall Sowing August 20 Aug 20 โ€“ Sep 3
Harvest May 14 May 14 โ€“ Jul 23

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

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 7a

Growing Season

203 days

Growing Tips for Davie 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 Davie County, NC?

Davie County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Davie County, NC?

Davie County, North Carolina is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Davie County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Davie County, NC. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.