Lettuce Planting Calendar by Season and Region

Lettuce is a cool-weather crop that thrives in early spring and fall, but with the right timing and strategy, you can grow it nearly year-round in many regions. This planting calendar breaks down when to plant lettuce by season and by USDA growing zone—so you can sow seeds at the right time for the best harvests. With 30+ years of hands-on experience growing lettuce in raised beds and containers in California, I’ll share how I time my lettuce plantings for a steady supply from seed to harvest.

Table of Contents

Know Your USDA Hardiness Zone

Before creating your planting calendar, determine your USDA hardiness zone. This helps you estimate first and last frost dates—key to successful lettuce planting.

Zone	Last Spring Frost (approx.)	First Fall Frost (approx.)
3–4	Late May–Early June	Early September
5–6	Late April–Mid May	Mid–Late October
7–8	Late March–Mid April	Mid–Late November
9–10	Late February–Early March	Rare to No Frost

Spring Lettuce Planting

Spring is the prime season for lettuce. Start early for the best flavor and texture.

Zones 3–4: Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant after hardening off once soil is workable.
Zones 5–6: Direct sow in early to mid-April or transplant seedlings by mid-May.
Zones 7–8: Direct sow from February to April. Successive sow every 2 weeks.
Zones 9–10: Sow from January through March. Use shade cloth in hotter areas.

My Experience: I start seeds indoors under lights in January in Zone 9 to get a head start on spring harvests, then move to shaded raised beds.

Summer Lettuce Planting

Summer heat causes bolting. Grow heat-tolerant varieties and provide shade.

Zones 3–6: Sow bolt-resistant varieties in part shade from late May to July.
Zones 7–8: Sow in late spring and use shade cloth to delay bolting.
Zones 9–10: Avoid summer plantings unless using shade, mulch, and consistent moisture.

Tip: Looseleaf varieties like ‘Jericho’ or ‘Muir’ handle heat better than butterhead types.

Fall Lettuce Planting

Fall crops produce crisp, sweet leaves. Sow 8–10 weeks before the first frost.

Zones 3–4: Sow indoors mid-July; transplant outdoors in early August.
Zones 5–6: Direct sow mid-August to early September.
Zones 7–8: Sow September through October.
Zones 9–10: Sow late September through December.

My Experience: In my Zone 9 garden, I sow lettuce every two weeks from late September into early December for continuous fall and winter harvests.

Winter Lettuce Growing

Cold frames, hoop tunnels, or indoor lights can extend the lettuce season into winter.

Zones 3–6: Grow under cover or indoors with grow lights.
Zones 7–8: Use low tunnels or frost cloth to protect late fall plantings.
Zones 9–10: Grow outdoors all winter. Choose frost-tolerant varieties.

Pro Tip: Use floating row covers to protect from light frosts and pests while boosting growth by a few degrees.

Succession Planting for Continuous Harvest

To avoid harvesting all at once:

Sow a new batch every 10–14 days.
Mix varieties for harvest diversity and staggered maturity.

Final Thoughts

Lettuce is one of the most rewarding vegetables to grow, especially when you plan by season and region. With a little know-how and some calendar planning, you’ll be harvesting crisp greens nearly year-round—just like I’ve been doing for decades in my own raised beds.

Lettuce Growing Hub