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When to Plant Lettuce in Macon County, TN

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.

Macon County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 201 days.

At an elevation of 2,524 feet, Macon County receives approximately 47.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season.

Macon County, TN (Zone 7b) Long season
201 days
Last Spring Frost April 10
201 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Macon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Lettuce Planting Timeline — Macon County, TN

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 6 Mar 6 – Mar 20
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 – Apr 24
Direct Sow March 27 Mar 27 – Apr 17
Harvest May 15 May 15 – Jul 24
Fall Sowing August 19 Aug 19 – Sep 2

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

30–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

201 days in Macon County

Growing Tips for Macon 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 →

🌾 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 Macon County, TN?

Macon County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 10. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Macon County, TN?

Macon County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 10 and first fall frost is October 28.

🌱

Your Macon County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Macon County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Macon County, TN. 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.