How to Grow Lettuce (2026)

Sow every 2 weeks in spring and fall; bolts in heat.

Type

Cool-season

USDA zones

3–11

Sun

Part shade

Spacing

8″

Seed depth

0.25″

Days to harvest

Quick answer: Lettuce is a cool-season crop for zones 3–11 in part sun. Plant 2–4 weeks before the last frost or in fall, space 8″ apart, and expect harvest in about 45 days.

Build your Lettuce planting card

Pick your state for indoor-start, sow/transplant, and harvest dates you can print.

Your state

In Alabama (zone 7–9, last frost ≈ Mar 15, first frost ≈ Nov 15, 245-day season), your Lettuce plan:

Sow / transplant outdoors

Mar 1

First harvest

Apr 15

Spacing / depth

8″ / 0.25″

Sow every 2 weeks in spring and fall; bolts in heat. Suits USDA zones 3–11. Dates are typical; confirm with your county extension and the 10-day forecast.

Growing tips

Spacing: 8 inches between plants keeps air flowing and limits disease.
Depth: sow seeds about 0.25″ deep (or set transplants at the same soil line).
Sun: Part shade tolerated — protect from hot afternoon sun.
Season: Tolerates light frost; best in cool weather, sow in spring and again in fall.

More cool-season crops

Carrot Spinach Kale Broccoli Potato Onion Strawberry Radish

Spacing, depth, and days-to-harvest are typical values from university extension guides. Planting dates are computed from typical USDA/extension freeze dates (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) + state cooperative extension typical freeze dates); confirm locally before acting.