Start indoors 4-5 weeks before last frost, plant out 4 weeks before frost. For fall harvest, transplant 8–10 weeks before first frost. Direct seed after last frost 1” apart, thin. Plant every 2–3 weeks to ensure continuous crop. Avoid sowing one long row all at once. Choose bolt-resistant varieties for summer harvest. Lettuce seed can enter thermal dormancy at high temperatures, see optimum germination temps. For continuous winter cold frame harvest from Elliot Coleman’s book ‘The New Organic Grower’: September 1 to 10, sow every 3-1/2 days. September 10 to 18, every 2 days, September 18 to October 10, every 3-1/2 days, October 10 to November 15, every 7 days. November 15 to December 15, every 10 days. Soil pH 6.0-6.8. Hardiness zones 6-9. Annual.
Days from maturity calculated from the date of seeding. Average 22,400 seeds per ounce. Average 131M seeds per acre. Federal germination standard: 80%. Usual seed life: 3 years. Isolation distance for seed saving: 25 feet.
Planting Depth
1/4”Soil Temp. Germ.
60–68˚FDays to Germ.
5-14Plant Spacing
12”Row Spacing
12”Days To Maturity
70Full Sun,
Moist Well Drained