When to plant lettuce in Delaware
Delaware’s average last spring frost is April 14, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 22 — about 191 frost-free days (USDA zones 7a, 7b). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Delaware's growing season.
When to plant lettuce in Delaware: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 24 – Apr 10, with seeds started indoors Mar 10 – Mar 24. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in Delaware: Apr 12 · Apr 24 · May 6 · May 18
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 Delaware, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 10 – Mar 24). 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 24 – Apr 10). 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 Delaware.
- 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 30 – May 30). 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 Delaware’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
When to plant lettuce in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware (this page) | April 14 | Mar 24 – Apr 10 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Mar 30 – Apr 16 |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 | Apr 10 – Apr 27 |
| Maryland | April 14 | Mar 24 – Apr 10 |
| District of Columbia | April 10 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Virginia | April 15 | Mar 25 – Apr 11 |
| West Virginia | May 5 | Apr 14 – May 1 |
Questions gardeners in Delaware ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Delaware?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Delaware between March 24 and April 10. That timing is set by Delaware's average last spring frost of April 14.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Delaware?
Start seeds indoors between March 10 and March 24, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 24.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Delaware?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 17 and September 3, so the crop matures in cool weather before Delaware's first frost around October 22.
When will lettuce planted in Delaware be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about April 30 to May 30, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Delaware?
On average around April 14, with the first fall frost around October 22 - about 191 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.