When to plant lettuce in Kentucky
Kentucky’s average last spring frost is April 18, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 20 — about 185 frost-free days (USDA zones 6a, 6b, 7a). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Kentucky's growing season.
When to plant lettuce in Kentucky: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 28 – Apr 14, with seeds started indoors Mar 14 – Mar 28. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in Kentucky: Apr 16 · Apr 28 · May 10 · May 22
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 Kentucky, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 14 – Mar 28). 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 28 – Apr 14). 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 Kentucky.
- 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 May 4 – Jun 3). 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 Kentucky’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in Kentucky
Kentucky spans USDA zones 6a, 6b, 7a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky (this page) | April 18 | Mar 28 – Apr 14 |
| North Carolina | April 5 | Mar 15 – Apr 1 |
| South Carolina | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Georgia | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Tennessee | April 10 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
Questions gardeners in Kentucky ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Kentucky?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Kentucky between March 28 and April 14. That timing is set by Kentucky's average last spring frost of April 18.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Kentucky?
Start seeds indoors between March 14 and March 28, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 28.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Kentucky?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 15 and September 1, so the crop matures in cool weather before Kentucky's first frost around October 20.
When will lettuce planted in Kentucky be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about May 4 to June 3, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Kentucky?
On average around April 18, with the first fall frost around October 20 - about 185 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.