When to plant lettuce in Maryland
Maryland’s average last spring frost is April 14, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 20 — about 189 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Maryland's growing season.
Maryland 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 Maryland: 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 Maryland: 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland.
- 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 Maryland’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in Maryland
Maryland spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland (this page) | April 14 | Mar 24 – Apr 10 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Mar 30 – Apr 16 |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 | Apr 10 – Apr 27 |
| Delaware | 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 Maryland ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Maryland?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Maryland between March 24 and April 10. That timing is set by Maryland's average last spring frost of April 14; Maryland spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Maryland?
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 Maryland?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 15 and September 1, so the crop matures in cool weather before Maryland's first frost around October 20.
When will lettuce planted in Maryland 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 Maryland?
On average around April 14, with the first fall frost around October 20 - about 189 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.