Planting guide · zone 6b
When to plant lettuce in zone 6b
In zone 6b, the average last spring frost is Apr 21 and the first fall frost is Oct 22. Here is lettuce's whole year, counted from those dates.
Feb 24Start seeds indoorsSpring
Mar 10Succession start 2Spring
Mar 24Succession start 3Spring
Mar 31Transplant into the gardenSpring
Aug 16Start seeds indoorsFall
Aug 30Succession start 2Fall
Sep 13Transplant into the gardenFall
Sep 13Succession 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 7a →Lettuce in zone 7b →