Plant Lettuce in Zone 3a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 3a
Zone 3a averages 123 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 15 to a first fall frost around September 15. Lettuce needs roughly 50 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 41 percent of that window. Lettuce is a hardy crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.
Because lettuce needs a head start, sow seed indoors around Apr 17, about 4 weeks ahead of the Zone 3a last frost. Transplants go out around May 1. Starting earlier than that in Zone 3a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.
Planting lettuce for a fall harvest in Zone 3a
Yes. Sow lettuce by July 27 in Zone 3a. That is 50 days before the average first frost, which covers the 50 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, minus the roughly 14 days lettuce keeps going once light frost arrives.
Lettuce bolts in heat. Fall sowings ripen into cooling weather instead of out of it, which is why fall lettuce is usually the better crop.
Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 3a average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.
Spring vs fall lettuce in Zone 3a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Apr 17 | May 1 | Jun 20 |
| Fall | by Jul 27 | Jul 27 | Sep 15 |
Lettuce in nearby zones
Further reading on lettuce
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How a cold frame keeps lettuce producing into winter, and when to sow it.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor start dates for lettuce, counted back from your last frost.
- Hardening off seedlings: a schedule
A day by day plan for moving lettuce seedlings outdoors.
Other crops in Zone 3a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start lettuce in Zone 3a?
Start lettuce seeds indoors around Apr 17 (Zone 3a).
Can I direct sow lettuce in Zone 3a?
Yes, direct sow around Apr 17.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Zone 3a?
Yes. Sow lettuce by July 27 in Zone 3a. That is 50 days before the average first frost, which covers the 50 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, minus the roughly 14 days lettuce keeps going once light frost arrives.
Will lettuce survive frost in Zone 3a?
Lettuce is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 14 days past the first light frost in Zone 3a. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.