When to plant lettuce in Arkansas
Arkansas’s average last spring frost is April 3, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 1 — about 212 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Arkansas's growing season.
When to plant lettuce in Arkansas: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 13 – Mar 30, with seeds started indoors Feb 27 – Mar 13. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in Arkansas: Apr 1 · Apr 13 · Apr 25 · May 7
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 Arkansas, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 27 – Mar 13). 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 (Mar 13 – Mar 30). 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 Arkansas.
- 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 Apr 19 – May 19). 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 Arkansas’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in Arkansas
Arkansas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. 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.
When to plant lettuce in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas (this page) | April 3 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Feb 12 – Mar 1 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 22 – Feb 8 |
Questions gardeners in Arkansas ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Arkansas?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Arkansas between March 13 and March 30. That timing is set by Arkansas's average last spring frost of April 3.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Arkansas?
Start seeds indoors between February 27 and March 13, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 13.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Arkansas?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 27 and September 13, so the crop matures in cool weather before Arkansas's first frost around November 1.
When will lettuce planted in Arkansas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about April 19 to May 19, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Arkansas?
On average around April 3, with the first fall frost around November 1 - about 212 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.