When to plant lettuce in Alaska
Alaska’s average last spring frost is May 17, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 13 — about 119 frost-free days (USDA zones 1a, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Alaska's growing season.
Alaska covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant lettuce in Alaska: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 26 – May 13, with seeds started indoors Apr 12 – Apr 26. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in Alaska: May 15 · May 27 · Jun 8 · Jun 20
Spring succession stops before summer heat makes it bolt. Start sowing again in late summer for a fall crop (see the fall window above).
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow lettuce in Alaska, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Apr 12 – Apr 26). Sow seeds ⅛ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 2-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 65°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 8 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Apr 26 – May 13). Space plants about 10 inches apart in rows 14 inches apart. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Alaska.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: aphids, slugs, snails, cutworm. Diseases and disorders: downy mildew, bottom rot, tipburn (calcium disorder).
- Harvest (from about Jun 2 – Jul 2). Lettuce takes 30-60 days to reach harvest. Seed needs light - barely cover it. Will not germinate above ~80 F soil. Loose-leaf types give the fastest, most forgiving cut-and-come-again harvest.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Alaska’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in Alaska
Alaska spans USDA zones 1a, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the lettuce dates shift with them.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant lettuce |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Jun 15 | Aug 20 | 65 days | May 11 – May 25 | May 25 – Jun 11 |
| Zone 2 | Jun 1 | Sep 1 | 90 days | Apr 27 – May 11 | May 11 – May 28 |
| Zone 3 | May 15 | Sep 15 | 120 days | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | Apr 24 – May 11 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 | Sep 25 | 135 days | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Apr 19 – May 6 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 160 days | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Apr 9 – Apr 26 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Mar 25 – Apr 11 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Mar 15 – Apr 1 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
When to plant lettuce in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska (this page) | May 17 | Apr 26 – May 13 |
| Hawaii | frost-free | - |
Questions gardeners in Alaska ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Alaska?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Alaska between April 26 and May 13. That timing is set by Alaska's average last spring frost of May 17; Alaska spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Alaska?
Start seeds indoors between April 12 and April 26, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 26.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Alaska?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 9 and July 26, so the crop matures in cool weather before Alaska's first frost around September 13.
When will lettuce planted in Alaska be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about June 2 to July 2, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Alaska?
On average around May 17, with the first fall frost around September 13 - about 119 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.