Planting guide · zone 6a
When to plant lettuce in zone 6a
In zone 6a, the average last spring frost is Apr 28 and the first fall frost is Oct 15. Here is lettuce's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 3Start seeds indoorsSpring
Mar 17Succession start 2Spring
Mar 31Succession start 3Spring
Apr 7Transplant into the gardenSpring
Aug 9Start seeds indoorsFall
Aug 23Succession start 2Fall
Sep 6Transplant into the gardenFall
Sep 6Succession 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 5a →Lettuce in zone 5b →Lettuce in zone 6b →Lettuce in zone 7a →