When to Plant Lettuce in Holt County, MO
Your May game plan for Holt County, Missouri
Here's what deserves your attention in Holt County, Missouri this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 6a and timed around your local frost dates.
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Time to start lettuce inside
Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.
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Harvest lettuce as they ripen
Taste as you pick. The first ripe produce is the best feedback loop you'll get all season.
Get ahead of June
- First harvests: lettuce
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.
Holt County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost is October 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 177 days.
At an elevation of 819 feet, Holt County receives approximately 39.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Lettuce to ensure they mature before fall.
Holt County Soil Profile
Soil Type
Silt Loam
Soil pH
5.5-7.1
Drainage
Well Drained
Plant Planting Risk Windows
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 Holt County
How your county's soil matches Lettuce's growing requirements.
Soil pH
Your soil pH (5.5–7.1) overlaps with Lettuce's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.
Soil Texture
The silt loam soil in Holt County is excellent for Lettuce — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.
Organic Matter
Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). Annual compost additions will help Lettuce.
How to Plant Lettuce
Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.
Succession Planting Lettuce
Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 16 to harvest before frost.
For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 06.
Plant Water Budget
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 | — | 1.6" | 0" | ❄️ Dormant |
| Feb | — | 1.7" | 0" | ❄️ Dormant |
| Mar | — | 2.8" | 0" | ❄️ Dormant |
| Apr | 3" | 3.7" | 0" | ✅ Rainfall sufficient |
| May | 3" | 5" | 0" | ✅ Rainfall sufficient |
| Jun | 3" | 4.5" | 0" | ✅ Rainfall sufficient |
| Jul | 3" | 4.4" | 0" | ✅ Rainfall sufficient |
| Aug | 3" | 4.1" | 0" | ✅ Rainfall sufficient |
| Sep | 3" | 3.1" | 0" | ✅ Rainfall sufficient |
| Oct | 3" | 3.5" | 0" | ✅ Rainfall sufficient |
| Nov | — | 3.1" | 0" | ❄️ Dormant |
| Dec | — | 2" | 0" | ❄️ Dormant |
Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Holt County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — every day above 50°F 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 Planting Timeline — Holt County, MO
Lettuce Planting Calendar
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | March 17 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Transplant Outdoors | April 21 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Direct Sow | April 7 | Apr 7 – Apr 28 |
| Harvest | May 26 | May 26 – Aug 4 |
| Fall Sowing | August 6 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart
Month-by-Month Timeline
| Month | Activities |
|---|---|
| January | — |
| February | — |
| March | Start Indoors |
| April | Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow |
| May | Transplant Outdoors Harvest |
| June | Harvest |
| July | Harvest |
| August | Fall Sowing Harvest |
| September | — |
| October | — |
| November | — |
| December | — |
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Partial Shade (3-6 hours)
💧 Water
0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient
📅 Days to Maturity
30–60 days
🧪 Soil pH
Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable
🗺️ USDA Zone
Zone 6a
📆 Growing Season
177 days in Holt County
Growing Tips for Lettuce in Holt County
Direct sow Lettuce outdoors after April 21 in Holt County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.
Your generous 177.0-day season in Holt 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.
Companion Planting
Good Companions
Avoid Planting Near
Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Very easy to save. Let a few plants bolt each season.
Lettuce in Other Locations
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Lettuce in Holt County, MO?
Holt County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 21. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.
What planting zone is Holt County, MO?
Holt County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and first fall frost is October 15.
Your Holt County Garden Planner — Free
A 24-page printable planner built for Holt County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.