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- Start indoors
- Sow outdoors
- Plant out
- Plant
- Fall crop
- Today
Historical frost averages plus extension guidance, not a forecast. Check the forecast and soil temperature before planting.
Sow lettuce outside from about 4 weeks before your last spring frost up to the frost date, or plant out indoor-raised seedlings 2–4 weeks before it. Start those seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost. For fall, sow again 8–10 weeks before your first fall frost.
- Frost tolerance
- Half-hardy: light frost OK
- Soil temperature
- Sows at 40–80°F (min 35°F)
- Days to harvest
- 40–50 days leaf; 70–85 head
The rule we use
- Start seeds indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last spring frost
- Plant out: 2–4 weeks before the last spring frost
- Sow outdoors: from 4 weeks before the last spring frost up to that date
- Sow for fall: 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost
Sowing and planting in spring
Lettuce is a cool-weather crop. Seed sprouts in cool soil, even near 40°F, though it takes longer. Sow thinly and only about ⅛–¼ inch deep, because the seed needs some light to germinate. Keep the surface moist until it comes up.
Transplants give you a head start, especially for head lettuce. Harden them off and plant them out a few weeks before the last frost. Young lettuce shrugs off light frost; cover it if a hard freeze is forecast.
Beat the heat
Hot weather and long days make lettuce bolt: it sends up a flower stalk and the leaves turn bitter. Spring lettuce should be planted early so most of it is harvested before summer heat.
Sow small amounts every 2–3 weeks rather than one big planting. Leaf lettuce is the quickest and most forgiving; pick outer leaves and the plant keeps growing. Afternoon shade and steady watering help late plantings hold on longer.
Fall lettuce
Lettuce seed often won't sprout well in soil above about 80°F. For a fall crop, sow 8–10 weeks before your first fall frost in a shaded spot, or start seeds indoors and plant out once the worst heat passes.
Fall lettuce grows into cooler weather and is often the best of the year. With frost cloth or a cold frame, you can keep picking well after the first frosts.
Seeds and supplies for lettuce
- Lettuce seeds at True Leaf Market
- Park Seed for seeds and young plants.
- LED grow lights stop seedlings stretching toward a window.
- Frost cloth to cover plants if a late cold night is forecast.
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Questions about planting lettuce
Can lettuce survive frost?
Yes, light frost. Young plants handle nights near 28–32°F. Cover them for a hard freeze.
How often should I sow lettuce?
Every 2–3 weeks through spring, and again in late summer, for a steady harvest.
Why won't my lettuce seeds germinate?
The most common causes are sowing too deep, soil drying out, or soil that's too hot in summer.
When is it too late to plant lettuce in spring?
Once daytime heat sets in, new plantings bolt fast. Switch to a fall sowing 8–10 weeks before your first fall frost.
Sources
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Central Maryland (2026), University of Maryland Extension
- Vegetables for Spring and Fall Planting; Vegetables for Summer Planting, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 16: Vegetable Gardening, NC State Extension
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 13: Propagation, NC State Extension
- Soil temperature conditions for vegetable seed germination, Oregon State University Extension
- Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah, Utah State University Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension
- Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11)