Planting guide · zone 7a
When to plant lettuce in zone 7a
In zone 7a, the average last spring frost is Apr 12 and the first fall frost is Oct 29. Here is lettuce's whole year, counted from those dates.
Feb 15Start seeds indoorsSpring
Mar 1Succession start 2Spring
Mar 15Succession start 3Spring
Mar 22Transplant into the gardenSpring
Aug 23Start seeds indoorsFall
Sep 6Succession start 2Fall
Sep 20Transplant into the gardenFall
Sep 20Succession 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 6a →Lettuce in zone 6b →Lettuce in zone 7b →Lettuce in zone 8a →