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When to Plant Lettuce in Peel (Mississauga/Brampton), ON

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.

Peel (Mississauga/Brampton), Ontario is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 3 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 207 days.

At an elevation of 511 feet, Peel (Mississauga/Brampton) receives approximately 41.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Lettuce, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot.

Peel (Mississauga/Brampton), ON (Zone 7b) Long season
207 days
Last Spring Frost April 3
207 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27
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Peel (Mississauga/Brampton) Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Lettuce Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jul 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jul 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jul 29

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.

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.

Lettuce Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/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 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Peel (Mississauga/Brampton)). 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 ~720 GDD — county provides 3,312 GDD Excellent fit

Lettuce Planting Timeline — Peel (Mississauga/Brampton), ON

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 27 Feb 27 – Mar 13
Transplant Outdoors April 3 Apr 3 – Apr 17
Direct Sow March 20 Mar 20 – Apr 10
Harvest May 8 May 8 – Jul 17
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 – Sep 1

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December
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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: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

207 days in Peel (Mississauga/Brampton)

Growing Tips for Lettuce in Peel (Mississauga/Brampton)

Your generous 207.0-day season in Peel (Mississauga/Brampton) 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 Peel (Mississauga/Brampton)

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lettuce in Peel (Mississauga/Brampton), ON?

Peel (Mississauga/Brampton) is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 3. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Peel (Mississauga/Brampton), ON?

Peel (Mississauga/Brampton), Ontario is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 3 and first fall frost is October 27.

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Your Peel (Mississauga/Brampton) Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Peel (Mississauga/Brampton) (Zone 7b). 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 Peel (Mississauga/Brampton), ON. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.