When to Plant Fall Lettuce: August–September Dates by Zone
Plant fall lettuce 6 to 8 weeks before frost: August in zones 3 to 6, September in zones 7 to 8. Harvest leaf types at 4 to 6 inches.
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When to Plant Fall Lettuce
Plant fall lettuce 6 to 8 weeks before your first fall frost. In many northern gardens, that means August. In zones 7 and 8, September is often better. In zones 9 and warmer, plant from October into winter once nights cool.
Lettuce seeds germinate best in cool soil. If the weather is still hot, start seeds indoors, sow in shade, or cool the soil with water and a light mulch. For crop details, see the ThriveThyme lettuce plant page.
Fall Lettuce Dates by Zone
- Zones 1 to 3: Sow in July to early August, or transplant in August.
- Zones 4 to 5: Sow from early to late August.
- Zone 6: Sow from late August to early September.
- Zone 7: Sow from early to mid September.
- Zone 8: Sow from mid September to early October.
- Zones 9 to 10: Sow from October to November.
- Zones 11 to 13: Grow lettuce during the cooler part of the year, avoiding hot wet stretches.
Direct Sow or Transplant
Direct sow lettuce 1/4 inch deep and keep the seedbed evenly moist. Thin seedlings so leaf lettuce stands about 4 to 6 inches apart and head lettuce stands about 8 to 10 inches apart. Transplants are useful when late summer soil is too hot for good germination.
Heat and Frost Notes
- Lettuce can handle light frost, but hard freezes damage tender leaves.
- Afternoon shade helps seedlings survive late summer heat.
- Choose loose-leaf, romaine, or butterhead types for faster fall harvests.
- Use row cover when nights turn cold; it can add 1 to 2 weeks of harvest.
How to Harvest Fall Lettuce
Pick leaf lettuce at 4 to 6 inches, outer leaves first. Cut heads at the base when they feel full. Morning harvests stay crisp. Heat makes leaves bitter. How to harvest lettuce.
Next Steps
Find your first fall frost date, count back 6 to 8 weeks, and sow a small batch every 7 to 10 days until your cutoff. Keep the seedbed cool and moist until seedlings are established.