When to plant lettuce
Short answer
Lettuce is hardy: seeds or transplants can go in 2–4 weeks before your average last frost. Start seeds indoors 5–6 weeks before you plant them outside. Seeds need soil of at least 35 °F to sprout.[1, 2]
Lettuce at a glance
| Frost tolerance | Hardy [1] |
|---|---|
| Plant outside (seeds or transplants) | 2–4 weeks before the average last frost [1] |
| Start seeds indoors | 5–6 weeks before planting out [2] |
| Soil temperature for seeds | At least 35 °F; best around 70 °F [1] |
| Time to harvest | About 60 days (leaf types) [1] |
Spring planting
- Spring, seeds or transplants: Can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost, once the soil has dried out. [1]
Example dates for some US cities
Based on each city's main airport weather station: the date with an even chance of frost after it (32 °F). [3] Your own dates can differ: use the ZIP code box above.
| City | Average last frost | Plant outside | Start indoors |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | Mar 30 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Jan 19 – Feb 9 |
| Atlanta, GA | Mar 15 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Jan 4 – Jan 25 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth, TX | Mar 8 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Dec 28 – Jan 18 |
| Chicago, IL | Apr 16 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Feb 5 – Feb 26 |
| Denver, CO | May 5 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | Feb 24 – Mar 17 |
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Feb 12 – Mar 5 |
| Seattle, WA | Mar 2 | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Dec 22 – Jan 12 |
Questions people ask
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors?
5–6 weeks before you plant them outside. Count back from your planting date: 2–4 weeks before your average last frost. [1, 2]
Can lettuce survive frost?
Hardy crops like lettuce grow in daytime temperatures as low as 40 °F and may survive a frosty night. [1]
What soil temperature do lettuce seeds need?
At least 35 °F; they sprout best around 70 °F. [1]
How long does lettuce take to grow?
About 60 days (leaf types). [1]
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on November 6, 2026. The wording is our own. Frost dates: NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; NOAA does not endorse this site.
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720). Colorado State University Extension. Reviewed Sep 2024.
- Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors: I. Planning. Utah State University Extension. Feb 2025.
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (frost dates). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
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