How to grow lettuce
Sow small amounts every two weeks. Heat above about 80°F makes it bolt and turn bitter.
Your lettuce dates
Companions
ArugulaBeetBroccoliCabbageCarrotCucumberDillKohlrabiOnionPeaRadishStrawberryTomato
Rotation and family
Lettuce belongs to the salad & greens (Asteraceae / Amaranthaceae). Quick crops that fill gaps between slower ones.
In a four-bed crop rotation it goes in the leaf & brassica bed. Avoid growing it where any salad & greens grew in the last three years.
Sow a fresh batch every 14 days for a steady supply. The succession planting calculator lists the dates.
When to plant lettuce by zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow / plant out | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Apr 22 – Jun 3 | Jul 8 – Jul 29 |
| 4 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | Apr 14 – May 26 | Jul 18 – Aug 8 |
| 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Apr 2 – May 14 | Jul 30 – Aug 20 |
| 6 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Mar 23 – May 4 | Aug 11 – Sep 1 |
| 7 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Mar 11 – Apr 22 | Aug 21 – Sep 11 |
| 8 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Feb 26 – Apr 9 | Sep 3 – Sep 24 |
| 9 | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Jan 25 – Mar 8 | Sep 24 – Oct 15 |
| 10 | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Jan 4 – Feb 15 | Oct 9 – Oct 30 |
Based on typical frost dates for each zone; b half-zones run about a week earlier in spring. Zones 11–13 are frost-free in most years.
Lettuce questions
When should I plant lettuce?
Plant lettuce outdoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost. Start seeds indoors about 5 weeks before your last frost. For a fall crop, sow about 10 weeks before your first fall frost.
How far apart should I plant lettuce?
About 6 inches apart, or 4 per square foot in a square foot garden.
What grows well with lettuce?
Traditional companions include arugula, beet, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, dill, kohlrabi, onion, pea, radish, strawberry, tomato.
How long does lettuce take to grow?
Typically 30–60 days from sowing to first harvest, depending on variety and weather.