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When to Plant Lettuce in Barton, OH

Lettuce
Belmont County, Ohio Zone 6b June

What to do in June

June is a pivotal month for Belmont County, Ohio gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 27
Avg. first frost October 23
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Sow lettuce in trays indoors

    Starting these indoors now means sturdy transplants ready the moment your soil warms up.

  2. Start harvesting lettuce

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

Get ahead of July
  • First harvests: lettuce

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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.

Barton, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost is October 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 179 days.

At an elevation of 996 feet, Belmont County receives approximately 33.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season.

Barton, OH (Zone 6b) Moderate season
179 days
Last Spring Frost April 27
179 growing days
First Fall Frost October 23

Barton Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Lettuce Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (73 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Aug 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Aug 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (72 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 27

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 Barton

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9–6.7) overlaps with Lettuce's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Belmont County is excellent for Lettuce — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.0%) — Lettuce will thrive.

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

7
successive plantings in your 179-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 24 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 14.

Lettuce Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

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 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 2.9" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 2.6" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Belmont 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 needs ~754 GDD — county provides 2,998 GDD Excellent fit

Lettuce Planting Timeline — Barton, OH

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 23 Mar 23 – Apr 6
Transplant Outdoors April 27 Apr 27 – May 11
Direct Sow April 13 Apr 13 – May 4
Harvest June 1 Jun 1 – Aug 10
Fall Sowing August 14 Aug 14 – Aug 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
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 6b

📆 Growing Season

179 days in Belmont County

Growing Tips for Lettuce in Barton

Direct sow Lettuce outdoors after April 27 in Belmont County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 179.0-day season in Belmont 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 Barton

Bolt-resistant varieties for warm summers — 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 →

🌾 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 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Very easy to save. Let a few plants bolt each season.

🌱

Your Belmont County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Belmont County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Belmont County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.