When to plant lettuce in Florida
Florida’s average last spring frost is February 12, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 10 — about 301 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Florida's growing season.
Florida 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 Florida: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Jan 22 – Feb 8, with seeds started indoors Jan 8 – Jan 22. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in Florida: Feb 10 · Feb 22 · Mar 6 · Mar 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 Florida, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 8 – Jan 22). 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 22 – Feb 8). 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 Florida.
- 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 Feb 28 – Mar 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 Florida’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in Florida
Florida spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (this page) | February 12 | Jan 22 – Feb 8 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Feb 12 – Mar 1 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
Questions gardeners in Florida ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Florida?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Florida between January 22 and February 8. That timing is set by Florida's average last spring frost of February 12; Florida spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Florida?
Start seeds indoors between January 8 and January 22, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from January 22.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Florida?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between October 5 and October 22, so the crop matures in cool weather before Florida's first frost around December 10.
When will lettuce planted in Florida be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about February 28 to March 30, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Florida?
On average around February 12, with the first fall frost around December 10 - about 301 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.