When to plant lettuce in North Carolina
North Carolina’s average last spring frost is April 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 25 — about 203 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within North Carolina's growing season.
North Carolina 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 North Carolina: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 15 – Apr 1, with seeds started indoors Mar 1 – Mar 15. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in North Carolina: Apr 3 · Apr 15 · Apr 27 · May 9
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 North Carolina, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 1 – Mar 15). 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 15 – Apr 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 North Carolina.
- 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 21 – May 21). 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 North Carolina’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in North Carolina
North Carolina spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina (this page) | April 5 | Mar 15 – Apr 1 |
| South Carolina | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Georgia | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Tennessee | April 10 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Kentucky | April 18 | Mar 28 – Apr 14 |
Questions gardeners in North Carolina ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in North Carolina?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in North Carolina between March 15 and April 1. That timing is set by North Carolina's average last spring frost of April 5; North Carolina spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in North Carolina?
Start seeds indoors between March 1 and March 15, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 15.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in North Carolina?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 20 and September 6, so the crop matures in cool weather before North Carolina's first frost around October 25.
When will lettuce planted in North Carolina be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about April 21 to May 21, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in North Carolina?
On average around April 5, with the first fall frost around October 25 - about 203 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.