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When to Plant Lettuce in Uinta County, WY

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.

Uinta County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is June 17 and the first fall frost is August 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 75 days.

At an elevation of 5,768 feet, Uinta County receives approximately 23.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Lettuce to ensure they mature before fall.

Uinta County, WY (Zone 4b) Very short season
75 days
Last Spring Frost June 17
75 growing days
First Fall Frost August 31

Uinta County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 29 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Sep 23
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 6 Transplant: Jun 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 30
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 13 Transplant: Jun 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Oct 7

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 Uinta County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3โ€“8.3) is more alkaline than Lettuce prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). Annual compost additions will help Lettuce.

How to Plant Lettuce

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Lettuce

2
successive plantings in your 75-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jun 08.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 2.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May โ€” 2.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Jun 3" 1.8" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3" 1.8" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 3" 2.2" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Oct โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Junโ€“Aug in Uinta 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 ~518 GDD — county provides 862 GDD Excellent fit

Lettuce Planting Timeline โ€” Uinta County, WY

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 6 May 6 โ€“ May 20
Transplant Outdoors June 17 Jun 17 โ€“ Jul 1
Direct Sow June 10 Jun 10 โ€“ Jul 1
Harvest July 22 Jul 22 โ€“ Sep 30
Fall Sowing June 8 Jun 8 โ€“ Jun 22

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Start Indoors
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow Fall Sowing
July Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

30โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

75 days in Uinta County

Growing Tips for Lettuce in Uinta County

Direct sow Lettuce outdoors after June 17 in Uinta County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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 Uinta County

Fast-maturing leaf and butterhead types

Salad Bowl (40d) Black Seeded Simpson (45d) Buttercrunch (50d)

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 Uinta County, WY?

Uinta County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of June 17. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Uinta County, WY?

Uinta County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is June 17 and first fall frost is August 31.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Uinta County gardeners in Zone 4b 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 Uinta County, WY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.