Planting guide · zone 8a
When to plant lettuce in zone 8a
In zone 8a, the average last spring frost is Mar 25 and the first fall frost is Nov 12. Here is lettuce's whole year, counted from those dates.
Jan 28Start seeds indoorsSpring
Feb 11Succession start 2Spring
Feb 25Succession start 3Spring
Mar 4Transplant into the gardenSpring
Sep 6Start seeds indoorsFall
Sep 20Succession start 2Fall
Oct 4Transplant into the gardenFall
Oct 4Succession 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 7a →Lettuce in zone 7b →Lettuce in zone 8b →Lettuce in zone 9a →