When to plant lettuce in South Carolina
South Carolina’s average last spring frost is March 25, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 5 — about 225 frost-free days (USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within South Carolina's growing season.
When to plant lettuce in South Carolina: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 4 – Mar 21, with seeds started indoors Feb 18 – Mar 4. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in South Carolina: Mar 23 · Apr 4 · Apr 16 · Apr 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 South Carolina, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 18 – Mar 4). 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 4 – Mar 21). 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 South 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 10 – May 10). 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 South Carolina’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in South Carolina
South Carolina spans USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (this page) | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| North Carolina | April 5 | Mar 15 – Apr 1 |
| Georgia | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Tennessee | April 10 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Kentucky | April 18 | Mar 28 – Apr 14 |
Questions gardeners in South Carolina ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in South Carolina?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in South Carolina between March 4 and March 21. That timing is set by South Carolina's average last spring frost of March 25.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in South Carolina?
Start seeds indoors between February 18 and March 4, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 4.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in South Carolina?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 31 and September 17, so the crop matures in cool weather before South Carolina's first frost around November 5.
When will lettuce planted in South Carolina be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about April 10 to May 10, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in South Carolina?
On average around March 25, with the first fall frost around November 5 - about 225 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.