Planting guide · zone 9a
When to plant lettuce in zone 9a
In zone 9a, the average last spring frost is Feb 28 and the first fall frost is Dec 1. Here is lettuce's whole year, counted from those dates.
Jan 3Start seeds indoorsSpring
Jan 17Succession start 2Spring
Jan 31Succession start 3Spring
Feb 7Transplant into the gardenSpring
Sep 25Start seeds indoorsFall
Oct 9Succession start 2Fall
Oct 23Transplant into the gardenFall
Oct 23Succession 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 8b →Lettuce in zone 9b →