Planting guide · zone 9b
When to plant lettuce in zone 9b
In zone 9b, the average last spring frost is Feb 14 and the first fall frost is Dec 12. Here is lettuce's whole year, counted from those dates.
Dec 20, 2025Start seeds indoorsSpring
Jan 3Succession start 2Spring
Jan 17Succession start 3Spring
Jan 24Transplant into the gardenSpring
Oct 6Start seeds indoorsFall
Oct 20Succession start 2Fall
Nov 3Transplant into the gardenFall
Nov 3Succession start 3Fall
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F
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A
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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 9a →