Blog

When to Plant Lettuce in Sumner 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.

Sumner County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 1,917 feet, Sumner County receives approximately 54.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Lettuce during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Lettuce root diseases.

Sumner County, TN (Zone 7b) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Sumner County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Lettuce Planting Timeline — Sumner County, TN

Lettuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 – Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 9 Apr 9 – Apr 23
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 – Apr 16
Harvest May 14 May 14 – Jul 23
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

202 days in Sumner County

Growing Tips for Sumner 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 Sumner County, TN?

Sumner County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Lettuce planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sumner County, TN?

Sumner County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 28.

🌱

Your Sumner County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Sumner 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 Sumner County, TN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: August 2026.

Sources & credits

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