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When to Plant Lettuce in Foard County, TX

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.

Foard County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 24 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 232 days.

At an elevation of 1,496 feet, Foard County receives approximately 57.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Lettuce root diseases.

Foard County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
232 days
Last Spring Frost March 24
232 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11

Foard County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (125 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 10 Transplant: Mar 17 🍅 Harvest: Apr 21 – Jun 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (127 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: Apr 28 – Jul 7
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 8 Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jul 26

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
1.0″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 637 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Lettuce needs ~821 GDD — county provides 4,234 GDD Excellent fit

Lettuce Planting Timeline โ€” Foard County, TX

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 17 Feb 17 โ€“ Mar 3
Transplant Outdoors March 24 Mar 24 โ€“ Apr 7
Direct Sow March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 31
Fall Sowing September 2 Sep 2 โ€“ Sep 16
Harvest April 28 Apr 28 โ€“ Jul 7

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
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 7b

Growing Season

232 days

Growing Tips for Foard 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 Foard County, TX?

Foard County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 24. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Foard County, TX?

Foard County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 24 and first fall frost is November 11.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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