Planting guide · zone 8b
When to plant lettuce in zone 8b
In zone 8b, the average last spring frost is Mar 12 and the first fall frost is Nov 22. Here is lettuce's whole year, counted from those dates.
Jan 15Start seeds indoorsSpring
Jan 29Succession start 2Spring
Feb 12Succession start 3Spring
Feb 19Transplant into the gardenSpring
Sep 16Start seeds indoorsFall
Sep 30Succession start 2Fall
Oct 14Transplant into the gardenFall
Oct 14Succession 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 7b →Lettuce in zone 8a →Lettuce in zone 9a →Lettuce in zone 9b →