When to plant lettuce in California
California spans USDA hardiness zones 5a-11. Average last spring frost: varies by region. This calendar gives you the indoor start, transplant, and direct-sow dates for Lactuca sativa.
California planting dates for lettuce
Dates for California vary significantly by region. Use the average frost date lookup for your specific ZIP code, then apply the standard offsets: start lettuce indoors 6 weeks before your last frost; transplant 2 weeks before last frost; direct sow 2 weeks before last frost.
Why these dates
Lettuce is a cool-season crop. Above 75F it bolts (goes to seed). Plant in early spring and again in late summer for fall harvest. Provide afternoon shade in midsummer to extend the season.
The dates above are anchored to California's average last spring frost date (which varies by region within the state), with offsets standard across university Extension publications. For zone-specific local timing, use the frost date lookup tool with your ZIP code.
More on growing lettuce
The full growing guide for lettuce - varieties, soil, fertilization, pests, harvest, storage - is here: Lettuce growing guide.
More California planting information
- Full California planting calendar (all crops + ornamentals)
- Find your exact USDA zone by ZIP
- Look up your average frost dates
- Seed starting timeline calculator