When to plant lettuce in zone 8b — planting calendar

Not your zone?

Showing USDA Zone 8B

Growing SeasonZone 8b

Last frost ~Mar 15First frost ~Nov 15Today

Start indoorsTransplant / sowHarvestFrost risk

FEBMARAPRMAY

Start indoors Feb 15 · Sow Feb 22 · First harvest Apr 3 · Wrap by May 15

Last spring frostMar 15

Start seeds indoorsFeb 15

Direct sowFeb 22

First harvestApr 3

Last harvestMay 15

Fall succession sowSep 6

First fall frostNov 15

Why these dates work in zone 8b

Zone 8b's last spring frost averages Mar 15 and first fall frost Nov 15 — about 245 frost-free days. Lettuce tolerates light frost, so you can sow ahead of the last-frost date and keep harvesting into the cooler fall. Starting seeds indoors 4 weeks ahead gives strong transplants ready the moment the soil warms. There's also room for a fall succession sowing around Sep 6 for a second harvest before frost.

Common questions

How long does lettuce take to grow in zone 8b?

Lettuce matures in about 40–60 days from sowing. In zone 8b that means sowing around Feb 22 and first picking around Apr 3.

Will lettuce survive frost in zone 8b?

Yes — lettuce tolerates light frost. In zone 8b you can sow a little before the last frost (around Mar 15) and keep harvesting past the first fall frost (around Nov 15).

Can I plant a second crop of lettuce in zone 8b?

Yes — in zone 8b there's time for a fall sowing around Sep 6 for a second harvest before frost.

For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full lettuce growing guide →