Growing Calendar

MenuClose

HomeAboutSearch

When to plant lettuce in zone 3a

In zone 3a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 26, start lettuce indoors March 31 to April 14 and plant out May 19 to June 2. For a fall crop, plant June 15 to July 20.

The zone 3a schedule for lettuce

Start seeds indoors
March 31 to April 14
Plant out
May 19 to June 2
Sow outdoors
May 5 to 12
First harvest, roughly
June 18 to August 11
Plant for a fall crop
June 15 to July 20

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 8 ZIP codes in zone 3a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for lettuce.

Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.

Frost risk in zone 3a

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 3a, the typical last frost ranges from about May 10 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to June 2 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 12 to October 1. For a typical place in the zone:

  • May 10Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 26Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • June 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

Your dates for lettuce

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant lettuce where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

Enter your ZIP code

How to grow lettuceAll zonesLettuce in zone 2aLettuce in zone 3bAbout zone 3a

Sources