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When to Plant Lettuce in Noble 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.

Noble County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 204 days.

At an elevation of 547 feet, Noble County receives approximately 24.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season.

Noble County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
204 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
204 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Noble County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (101 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – Jul 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (99 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: May 12 – Jul 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (105 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Aug 4

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 Noble County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4โ€“7.2) overlaps with Lettuce's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Lettuce.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). 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 204-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
0.5″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 897 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€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3" 2.3" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3" 3.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 2.8" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 3" 3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 2.2" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 3" 1.7" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Noble 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 ~855 GDD — county provides 3,876 GDD Excellent fit

Lettuce Planting Timeline โ€” Noble County, OK

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 3 Mar 3 โ€“ Mar 17
Transplant Outdoors April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 21
Direct Sow March 24 Mar 24 โ€“ Apr 14
Harvest May 12 May 12 โ€“ Jul 21
Fall Sowing August 19 Aug 19 โ€“ Sep 2

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 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

30โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

204 days in Noble County

Growing Tips for Lettuce in Noble County

Direct sow Lettuce outdoors after April 07 in Noble County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in Noble County reach 92ยฐF โ€” grow Lettuce as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Your generous 204.0-day season in Noble 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 Noble 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 Noble County, OK?

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

What planting zone is Noble County, OK?

Noble County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is October 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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