When to plant lettuce in Maine
Maine’s average last spring frost is May 14, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 25 — about 134 frost-free days (USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Maine's growing season.
When to plant lettuce in Maine: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 23 – May 10, with seeds started indoors Apr 9 – Apr 23. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in Maine: May 12 · May 24 · Jun 5 · Jun 17
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 Maine, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Apr 9 – Apr 23). 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 23 – May 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 Maine.
- 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 30 – Jun 29). 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 Maine’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in Maine
Maine spans USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maine (this page) | May 14 | Apr 23 – May 10 |
| New Hampshire | May 13 | Apr 22 – May 9 |
| Vermont | May 14 | Apr 23 – May 10 |
| Massachusetts | April 24 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| 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 Maine ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Maine?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Maine between April 23 and May 10. That timing is set by Maine's average last spring frost of May 14.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Maine?
Start seeds indoors between April 9 and April 23, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 23.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Maine?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 21 and August 7, so the crop matures in cool weather before Maine's first frost around September 25.
When will lettuce planted in Maine be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about May 30 to June 29, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Maine?
On average around May 14, with the first fall frost around September 25 - about 134 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.