US Grow Zones

When to plant lettuce by zone

Last updated · Sources: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals frost dates; timing rules described in our methodology

Lactuca sativa is a cool-season crop that is semi-hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks before to 1 week after the last frost; direct sow from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; for a fall crop, sow or plant 6–10 weeks before the first fall frost.

SeasonCoolsemi-hardy to frost
Days to maturity45–60from sowing
Min. soil temp40°F4.4°C, at planting
Spacing8–12 inin the row

Lettuce planting dates by zone

Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Sep 15 – Feb 15.

Lettuce planting windows by hardiness zoneLettuce planting windows by USDA zone. zone 1a: indoor Apr 17–May 1, transplant May 15–Jun 5, direct May 1–Jun 12; zone 1b: indoor Apr 17–May 1, transplant May 15–Jun 5, direct May 1–Jun 12; zone 2a: indoor Apr 9–Apr 23, transplant May 7–May 28, direct Apr 23–Jun 4, fall Jun 23–Jul 21; zone 2b: indoor Apr 8–Apr 22, transplant May 6–May 27, direct Apr 22–Jun 3, fall Jun 25–Jul 23; zone 3a: indoor Apr 23–May 7, transplant May 21–Jun 11, direct May 7–Jun 18; zone 3b: indoor Apr 12–Apr 26, transplant May 10–May 31, direct Apr 26–Jun 7, fall Jul 10–Aug 7; zone 4a: indoor Mar 31–Apr 14, transplant Apr 28–May 19, direct Apr 14–May 26, fall Jul 19–Aug 16; zone 4b: indoor Mar 24–Apr 7, transplant Apr 21–May 12, direct Apr 7–May 19, fall Jul 26–Aug 23; zone 5a: indoor Mar 23–Apr 6, transplant Apr 20–May 11, direct Apr 6–May 18, fall Jul 25–Aug 22; zone 5b: indoor Mar 23–Apr 6, transplant Apr 20–May 11, direct Apr 6–May 18, fall Jul 31–Aug 28; zone 6a: indoor Mar 23–Apr 6, transplant Apr 20–May 11, direct Apr 6–May 18, fall Jul 31–Aug 28; zone 6b: indoor Mar 15–Mar 29, transplant Apr 12–May 3, direct Mar 29–May 10, fall Aug 12–Sep 9; zone 7a: indoor Mar 11–Mar 25, transplant Apr 8–Apr 29, direct Mar 25–May 6, fall Aug 12–Sep 9; zone 7b: indoor Feb 27–Mar 13, transplant Mar 27–Apr 17, direct Mar 13–Apr 24, fall Aug 18–Sep 15; zone 8a: indoor Feb 18–Mar 4, transplant Mar 18–Apr 8, direct Mar 4–Apr 15, fall Aug 25–Sep 22; zone 8b: indoor Feb 8–Feb 22, transplant Mar 8–Mar 29, direct Feb 22JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1a*1b*2a2b*3a*3b*4a4b5a5b6a6b7a7b8a8b9a9b10a10b11a11b*12a*12b13a*13b*Start indoorsPlant outDirect sowFall cropFrost-free climate window · * estimated zone
Planting windows by zone, drawn from the table below. Zones marked * have no major city on this site and use NOAA station estimates.
ZoneMedian last frostStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop
1a*May 29Apr 17 – May 1May 15 – Jun 5May 1 – Jun 12—
1b*May 29Apr 17 – May 1May 15 – Jun 5May 1 – Jun 12—
2aMay 21Apr 9 – Apr 23May 7 – May 28Apr 23 – Jun 4Jun 23 – Jul 21
2b*May 20Apr 8 – Apr 22May 6 – May 27Apr 22 – Jun 3Jun 25 – Jul 23
3a*Jun 4Apr 23 – May 7May 21 – Jun 11May 7 – Jun 18—
3b*May 24Apr 12 – Apr 26May 10 – May 31Apr 26 – Jun 7Jul 10 – Aug 7
4aMay 12Mar 31 – Apr 14Apr 28 – May 19Apr 14 – May 26Jul 19 – Aug 16
4bMay 5Mar 24 – Apr 7Apr 21 – May 12Apr 7 – May 19Jul 26 – Aug 23
5aMay 4Mar 23 – Apr 6Apr 20 – May 11Apr 6 – May 18Jul 25 – Aug 22
5bMay 4Mar 23 – Apr 6Apr 20 – May 11Apr 6 – May 18Jul 31 – Aug 28
6aMay 4Mar 23 – Apr 6Apr 20 – May 11Apr 6 – May 18Jul 31 – Aug 28
6bApr 26Mar 15 – Mar 29Apr 12 – May 3Mar 29 – May 10Aug 12 – Sep 9
7aApr 22Mar 11 – Mar 25Apr 8 – Apr 29Mar 25 – May 6Aug 12 – Sep 9
7bApr 10Feb 27 – Mar 13Mar 27 – Apr 17Mar 13 – Apr 24Aug 18 – Sep 15
8aApr 1Feb 18 – Mar 4Mar 18 – Apr 8Mar 4 – Apr 15Aug 25 – Sep 22
8bMar 22Feb 8 – Feb 22Mar 8 – Mar 29Feb 22 – Apr 5Sep 1 – Sep 29
9aMar 11Jan 28 – Feb 11Feb 25 – Mar 18Feb 11 – Mar 25Sep 10 – Oct 8
9bFeb 12Jan 1 – Jan 15Jan 29 – Feb 19Jan 15 – Feb 26Sep 24 – Oct 22
10aJan 26Dec 15 – Dec 29Jan 12 – Feb 2Dec 29 – Feb 9Oct 6 – Nov 3
10bJan 27Dec 16 – Dec 30Jan 13 – Feb 3Dec 30 – Feb 10Oct 4 – Nov 1
11aRareSep 15 – Feb 15
11b*RareSep 15 – Feb 15
12a*RareSep 15 – Feb 15
12bRareSep 15 – Feb 15
13a*RareSep 15 – Feb 15
13b*RareSep 15 – Feb 15

Growing tips

Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.

Exact dates for your city

Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.

Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets

Lettuce planting questions

When should I start lettuce seeds indoors?

About 4–6 weeks before your last spring frost. Using the median frost dates of cities on this site: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Mar 23 – Apr 6; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 15 – Mar 29; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Feb 18 – Mar 4.

When can I plant lettuce outside?

Set out transplants from 2 weeks before to 1 week after the last frost, once the soil reaches about 40°F (4.4°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Apr 20 – May 11; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Apr 12 – May 3; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Mar 18 – Apr 8.

Can I grow lettuce as a fall crop?

Yes. Sow or plant 6–10 weeks before your first fall frost. For a first frost around Oct 15, that is Aug 6 – Sep 3. Add about two weeks to the days to maturity for slower fall growth — see fall planting.

How long does lettuce take to grow?

45–60 days from sowing. As a semi-hardy cool-season crop it grows best in cool weather, so spring plantings should mature before summer heat, and fall plantings need about two extra weeks because days are shorter.

When do you plant lettuce where frost is rare?

In frost-free climates, plant lettuce Sep 15 – Feb 15, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.