When to plant lettuce in Missouri
Missouri’s average last spring frost is April 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 18 — about 186 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Missouri's growing season.
When to plant lettuce in Missouri: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 25 – Apr 11, with seeds started indoors Mar 11 – Mar 25. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in Missouri: Apr 13 · Apr 25 · May 7 · May 19
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 Missouri, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 11 – Mar 25). 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 25 – Apr 11). 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 Missouri.
- 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 1 – May 31). 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 Missouri’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in Missouri
Missouri spans USDA zones 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
Questions gardeners in Missouri ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Missouri?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Missouri between March 25 and April 11. That timing is set by Missouri's average last spring frost of April 15.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Missouri?
Start seeds indoors between March 11 and March 25, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 25.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Missouri?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 13 and August 30, so the crop matures in cool weather before Missouri's first frost around October 18.
When will lettuce planted in Missouri be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about May 1 to May 31, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Missouri?
On average around April 15, with the first fall frost around October 18 - about 186 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.