When to Plant Lettuce

Lettuce prefers cool weather and handles light frost. Sow in early spring and again in late summer for a fall crop.

Lettuce planting dates in major cities

CityStart indoorsSow or transplant outsideFall planting
Mesa, AZDec 21 – Jan 4Jan 4 – Jan 18Oct 15 – Nov 12
Phoenix, AZNov 27 – Dec 11Dec 11 – Dec 25Oct 30 – Nov 27
Tucson, AZDec 25 – Jan 8Jan 8 – Jan 22Oct 14 – Nov 11
Anaheim, CANov 24 – Dec 8Dec 8 – Dec 22Oct 30 – Nov 27
Bakersfield, CADec 20 – Jan 3Jan 3 – Jan 17Oct 13 – Nov 10
Fresno, CADec 3 – Dec 17Dec 17 – Dec 31Oct 19 – Nov 16
Irvine, CANov 24 – Dec 8Dec 8 – Dec 22Oct 30 – Nov 27
Long Beach, CANov 28 – Dec 12Dec 12 – Dec 26Nov 10 – Dec 8
Los Angeles, CANov 21 – Dec 5Dec 5 – Dec 19Oct 31 – Nov 28
Oakland, CANov 26 – Dec 10Dec 10 – Dec 24Oct 28 – Nov 25
Riverside, CANov 28 – Dec 12Dec 12 – Dec 26Oct 30 – Nov 27
Sacramento, CADec 1 – Dec 15Dec 15 – Dec 29Oct 21 – Nov 18
San Diego, CANov 25 – Dec 9Dec 9 – Dec 23Oct 26 – Nov 23
San Francisco, CANov 18 – Dec 2Dec 2 – Dec 16Oct 30 – Nov 27
San Jose, CANov 21 – Dec 5Dec 5 – Dec 19Oct 30 – Nov 27
Stockton, CADec 25 – Jan 8Jan 8 – Jan 22Oct 13 – Nov 10
Aurora, COMar 26 – Apr 9Apr 9 – Apr 23Aug 13 – Sep 10
Colorado Springs, COMar 22 – Apr 5Apr 5 – Apr 19Aug 13 – Sep 10
Denver, COMar 23 – Apr 6Apr 6 – Apr 20Aug 13 – Sep 10
Washington, DCFeb 15 – Mar 1Mar 1 – Mar 15Sep 13 – Oct 11
Jacksonville, FLDec 21 – Jan 4Jan 4 – Jan 18Nov 10 – Dec 8
Orlando, FLDec 14 – Dec 28Dec 28 – Jan 11Nov 15 – Dec 13
Tampa, FLDec 9 – Dec 23Dec 23 – Jan 6Nov 17 – Dec 15
Atlanta, GAFeb 10 – Feb 24Feb 24 – Mar 10Sep 13 – Oct 11
Chicago, ILFeb 27 – Mar 13Mar 13 – Mar 27Sep 10 – Oct 8
Indianapolis city, INMar 9 – Mar 23Mar 23 – Apr 6Aug 26 – Sep 23
Wichita, KSFeb 28 – Mar 14Mar 14 – Mar 28Sep 3 – Oct 1
Lexington-Fayette, KYMar 2 – Mar 16Mar 16 – Mar 30Sep 2 – Sep 30
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KYFeb 23 – Mar 9Mar 9 – Mar 23Sep 6 – Oct 4
New Orleans, LADec 11 – Dec 25Dec 25 – Jan 8Nov 10 – Dec 8
Boston, MAFeb 21 – Mar 7Mar 7 – Mar 21Sep 14 – Oct 12
Baltimore, MDFeb 10 – Feb 24Feb 24 – Mar 10Sep 26 – Oct 24
Detroit, MIMar 16 – Mar 30Mar 30 – Apr 13Aug 30 – Sep 27
Minneapolis, MNMar 12 – Mar 26Mar 26 – Apr 9Aug 21 – Sep 18
Kansas City, MOFeb 21 – Mar 7Mar 7 – Mar 21Sep 7 – Oct 5
Charlotte, NCFeb 16 – Mar 2Mar 2 – Mar 16Sep 8 – Oct 6
Raleigh, NCFeb 14 – Feb 28Feb 28 – Mar 14Sep 13 – Oct 11
Omaha, NEMar 5 – Mar 19Mar 19 – Apr 2Aug 23 – Sep 20
Albuquerque, NMMar 12 – Mar 26Mar 26 – Apr 9Aug 25 – Sep 22
Henderson, NVDec 9 – Dec 23Dec 23 – Jan 6Oct 20 – Nov 17
Las Vegas, NVDec 13 – Dec 27Dec 27 – Jan 10Oct 15 – Nov 12
New York, NYFeb 18 – Mar 4Mar 4 – Mar 18Sep 24 – Oct 22
Cleveland, OHFeb 25 – Mar 11Mar 11 – Mar 25Sep 17 – Oct 15
Columbus, OHMar 9 – Mar 23Mar 23 – Apr 6Aug 29 – Sep 26
Oklahoma City, OKFeb 21 – Mar 7Mar 7 – Mar 21Sep 7 – Oct 5
Tulsa, OKFeb 17 – Mar 3Mar 3 – Mar 17Sep 9 – Oct 7
Portland, ORJan 14 – Jan 28Jan 28 – Feb 11Oct 6 – Nov 3
Philadelphia, PAFeb 16 – Mar 2Mar 2 – Mar 16Sep 22 – Oct 20
Memphis, TNFeb 2 – Feb 16Feb 16 – Mar 2Sep 21 – Oct 19
Nashville-Davidson, TNFeb 18 – Mar 4Mar 4 – Mar 18Sep 5 – Oct 3
Arlington, TXJan 26 – Feb 9Feb 9 – Feb 23Sep 26 – Oct 24
Austin, TXJan 9 – Jan 23Jan 23 – Feb 6Oct 8 – Nov 5
Dallas, TXJan 19 – Feb 2Feb 2 – Feb 16Oct 4 – Nov 1
El Paso, TXJan 19 – Feb 2Feb 2 – Feb 16Sep 25 – Oct 23
Fort Worth, TXJan 22 – Feb 5Feb 5 – Feb 19Sep 29 – Oct 27
Houston, TXDec 22 – Jan 5Jan 5 – Jan 19Oct 30 – Nov 27
San Antonio, TXJan 14 – Jan 28Jan 28 – Feb 11Oct 3 – Oct 31
Virginia Beach, VAFeb 15 – Mar 1Mar 1 – Mar 15Sep 17 – Oct 15
Seattle, WAJan 25 – Feb 8Feb 8 – Feb 22Sep 28 – Oct 26
Milwaukee, WIMar 15 – Mar 29Mar 29 – Apr 12Aug 23 – Sep 20

Calculated from each city's average (50%) frost dates. In a cold spring, lean toward the later end of each window.

Other crops

TomatoesPeppersEggplantBasilCucumbersZucchini and summer squashPumpkins and winter squashWatermelons and melonsGreen beansSweet cornSpinachPeasKaleBroccoliCabbageCarrotsRadishesBeetsOnions (sets or transplants)PotatoesGarlic