Planting guide · zone 5a
When to plant lettuce in zone 5a
In zone 5a, the average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is Oct 1. Here is lettuce's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 20Start seeds indoorsSpring
Apr 3Succession start 2Spring
Apr 17Succession start 3Spring
Apr 24Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jul 26Start seeds indoorsFall
Aug 9Succession start 2Fall
Aug 23Transplant into the gardenFall
Aug 23Succession start 3Fall
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
Rich, moisture-retentive soil. Shallow roots dry out first — steady water prevents bitterness.
Seedling care
Seed needs light to germinate: press into the surface, barely cover. Transplant at 3–4 true leaves after a week of hardening off.
Growing notes
Afternoon shade helps late-summer starts. Bitter or bolting lettuce is almost always heat or drought stress.
Harvest
Take outer leaves for a long harvest, or cut whole heads. Frost-tolerant to the mid-20s with a row cover.
Same crop, other zones
Lettuce in zone 5b →Lettuce in zone 6a →Lettuce in zone 6b →Lettuce in zone 7a →