When to plant lettuce in Louisiana
Louisiana’s average last spring frost is March 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 255 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Louisiana's growing season.
When to plant lettuce in Louisiana: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Feb 12 – Mar 1, with seeds started indoors Jan 29 – Feb 12. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in Louisiana: Mar 3 · Mar 15 · Mar 27 · Apr 8
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 Louisiana, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 29 – Feb 12). 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 (Feb 12 – Mar 1). 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 Louisiana.
- 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 21 – Apr 20). 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 Louisiana’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in Louisiana
Louisiana spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana (this page) | March 5 | Feb 12 – Mar 1 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 22 – Feb 8 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
Questions gardeners in Louisiana ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Louisiana?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Louisiana between February 12 and March 1. That timing is set by Louisiana's average last spring frost of March 5.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Louisiana?
Start seeds indoors between January 29 and February 12, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from February 12.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Louisiana?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between September 10 and September 27, so the crop matures in cool weather before Louisiana's first frost around November 15.
When will lettuce planted in Louisiana be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about March 21 to April 20, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Louisiana?
On average around March 5, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 255 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.