When to plant lettuce in California
California’s average last spring frost is February 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 1 — about 284 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 10b). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within California's growing season.
California 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 California: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Jan 30 – Feb 16, with seeds started indoors Jan 16 – Jan 30. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in California: Feb 18 · Mar 2 · Mar 14 · Mar 26
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 California, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 16 – Jan 30). 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 (Jan 30 – Feb 16). 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 California.
- 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 Mar 8 – Apr 7). 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 California’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in California
California spans USDA zones 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 10b. 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 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 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Jan 30 – Feb 16 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 | Dec 15 | 330 days | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Jan 9 – Jan 26 |
Questions gardeners in California ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in California?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in California between January 30 and February 16. That timing is set by California's average last spring frost of February 20; California spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in California?
Start seeds indoors between January 16 and January 30, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from January 30.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in California?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between September 26 and October 13, so the crop matures in cool weather before California's first frost around December 1.
When will lettuce planted in California be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about March 8 to April 7, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in California?
On average around February 20, with the first fall frost around December 1 - about 284 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.