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When to Plant Celtuce in Lynn County, TX

Celtuce (stem lettuce) is a Chinese vegetable grown for its thick, crunchy stem rather than its leaves. The peeled stem has a mild, cucumber-like flavor.

Lynn County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost is November 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 223 days.

At an elevation of 2,252 feet, Lynn County receives approximately 47.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celtuce during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Celtuce will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Lynn County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
223 days
Last Spring Frost March 31
223 growing days
First Fall Frost November 9

Lynn County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.5-8.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (116 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Mar 25 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jul 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: Jun 2 – Jul 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (117 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – 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.

Soil Compatibility in Lynn County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.5โ€“8.5) is more alkaline than Celtuce prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Lynn County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Celtuce will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.1%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Celtuce.

How to Plant Celtuce

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 Celtuce

4
successive plantings in your 223-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 11 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 31.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Celtuce

Celtuce needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celtuce Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3" 2.8" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 3" 1.8" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3" 1" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3" 1.6" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3" 7.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 9.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 6.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 3.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Lynn County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Celtuce 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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.

Celtuce needs ~1,538 GDD — county provides 4,571 GDD Excellent fit

Celtuce Planting Timeline โ€” Lynn County, TX

Celtuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 24 Feb 24 โ€“ Mar 10
Transplant Outdoors March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 14
Direct Sow March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Apr 7
Harvest June 2 Jun 2 โ€“ Jul 14
Fall Sowing August 31 Aug 31 โ€“ Sep 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

223 days in Lynn County

Growing Tips for Celtuce in Lynn County

Direct sow Celtuce outdoors after March 31 in Lynn County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Lynn County dries quickly โ€” mulch Celtuce with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Common pests for Celtuce in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring or start indoors. Space 12 inches apart. Harvest when stems are about 1 inch in diameter. Peel the tough outer skin to reveal the tender center.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celtuce in Lynn County, TX?

Lynn County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 31. Plan your Celtuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lynn County, TX?

Lynn County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 31 and first fall frost is November 9.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lynn County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Lynn County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.