When to plant lettuce in Massachusetts
Massachusetts’s average last spring frost is April 24, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 14 — about 173 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Massachusetts's growing season.
When to plant lettuce in Massachusetts: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 3 – Apr 20, with seeds started indoors Mar 20 – Apr 3. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in Massachusetts: Apr 22 · May 4 · May 16 · May 28
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 Massachusetts, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 20 – Apr 3). 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 (Apr 3 – Apr 20). 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 Massachusetts.
- 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 10 – Jun 9). 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 Massachusetts’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in Massachusetts
Massachusetts spans USDA zones 5a, 5b, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (this page) | April 24 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| Maine | May 14 | Apr 23 – May 10 |
| New Hampshire | May 13 | Apr 22 – May 9 |
| Vermont | May 14 | Apr 23 – May 10 |
| Rhode Island | April 25 | Apr 4 – Apr 21 |
| Connecticut | April 25 | Apr 4 – Apr 21 |
| New York | May 1 | Apr 10 – Apr 27 |
Questions gardeners in Massachusetts ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Massachusetts?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Massachusetts between April 3 and April 20. That timing is set by Massachusetts's average last spring frost of April 24.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Massachusetts?
Start seeds indoors between March 20 and April 3, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 3.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Massachusetts?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 9 and August 26, so the crop matures in cool weather before Massachusetts's first frost around October 14.
When will lettuce planted in Massachusetts be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about May 10 to June 9, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Massachusetts?
On average around April 24, with the first fall frost around October 14 - about 173 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.