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When to Plant Lettuce in Garvin County, OK

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.

Garvin County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost is November 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 213 days.

At an elevation of 515 feet, Garvin County receives approximately 31.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season.

Garvin County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
213 days
Last Spring Frost April 4
213 growing days
First Fall Frost November 3

Garvin County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (108 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 19 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: Apr 30 – Jul 9
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (108 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 9 – Jul 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jul 29

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 Garvin County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3โ€“7.2) overlaps with Lettuce's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.3%). 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 213-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 25.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 184 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Lettuce

Lettuce needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Lettuce Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 4.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 4.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 2.9" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 3" 2.1" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 3" 1.1" 1.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Nov in Garvin County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Lettuce Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Lettuce needs ~889 GDD — county provides 4,206 GDD Excellent fit

Lettuce Planting Timeline โ€” Garvin County, OK

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 28 Feb 28 โ€“ Mar 14
Transplant Outdoors April 4 Apr 4 โ€“ Apr 18
Direct Sow March 21 Mar 21 โ€“ Apr 11
Harvest May 9 May 9 โ€“ Jul 18
Fall Sowing August 25 Aug 25 โ€“ Sep 8

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
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 Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

30โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

213 days in Garvin County

Growing Tips for Lettuce in Garvin County

Direct sow Lettuce outdoors after April 04 in Garvin County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in Garvin County reach 93ยฐF โ€” grow Lettuce as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Your generous 213.0-day season in Garvin 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 Garvin 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

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 Garvin County, OK?

Garvin County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 4. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Garvin County, OK?

Garvin County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 4 and first fall frost is November 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Garvin 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 Garvin County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.