Blog

When to Plant Lettuce in Wayne County, WV

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.

Wayne County, West Virginia is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 194 days.

At an elevation of 4,000 feet, Wayne County receives approximately 45.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season.

Wayne County, WV (Zone 6b) Moderate season
194 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
194 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Wayne County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Lettuce

Lettuce needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Lettuce Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 4.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.3" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Lettuce Planting Timeline โ€” Wayne County, WV

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 12 Mar 12 โ€“ Mar 26
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ Apr 30
Direct Sow April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 23
Harvest May 21 May 21 โ€“ Jul 30
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
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

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

30โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

194 days in Wayne County

Growing Tips for Wayne 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

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 Wayne County, WV?

Wayne County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wayne County, WV?

Wayne County, West Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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