In zone 7, plant lettuce outside from March 20 to March 27, three to four weeks before your last spring frost. Sow again in late summer for a fall crop: the last sowing date is about August 28.
Lettuce dates for your ZIP code
Planting times based on university extension guidance (UNH, Cornell, Purdue, Minnesota, Nebraska and UMass Extension). Frost dates from NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest weather station. Zones derived from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map data (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). This is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Lettuce timing in zone 7
| Task | When |
|---|---|
| Start indoors (optional) | February 13 – February 20 |
| Plant outside | March 20 – March 27 |
| First harvest | May 9 – May 26 |
| Sow for fall by | August 28 |
| Sow again | Every couple of weeks in spring and late summer |
| Overwinter (optional) | Set out young transplants in mid-fall and protect them over winter |
Most of zone 7 sees its last spring frost between April 10 and April 26 (typical April 17) and its first fall frost between October 18 and October 29 (typical October 23). Lettuce handles light frost, so early planting is fine, but cover it if a hard freeze is forecast. The tool above uses the weather station closest to your ZIP code.
Why lettuce is planted before the last frost
Lettuce is a cool-season, semi-hardy crop. It tolerates light frost and grows best in mild weather, so it goes into the garden weeks before the last spring frost. Heat and long summer days make it bolt: the plant sends up a flower stalk and the leaves turn bitter. That is why lettuce is grown in spring and again in fall.
Best lettuce varieties for zone 7
In zone 7, lettuce grows best in spring and fall, with a summer break when the heat makes it bolt.
- Leaf lettuce: Grand Rapids, Black Seeded Simpson, Salad Bowl, Red Sails and Slobolt.
- Butterhead: Buttercrunch. Small-headed types suit sowing in batches.
- Romaine: Parris Island Cos and Winter Density.
- Oak-leaf types tolerate heat better and stretch the season into early summer.
- For overwintering: Winter Density, Arctic King, Brune d’Hiver and Winter Marvel.
How to plant lettuce
- Sow seeds ¼ inch deep directly in the garden, or start transplants indoors four to five weeks ahead.
- Thin leaf lettuce to 4–8 inches apart when seedlings are 1–2 inches tall. You can eat the thinnings.
- Space heading types wider: butterhead and romaine 6–10 inches apart, crisphead 12–15 inches.
- Water lightly and often to keep growth fast and tender.
- Sow small batches every couple of weeks for a steady harvest.
Zone 7 lettuce tips
- Plant early in spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Lettuce sown late in spring runs into heat and bolts.
- Skip midsummer. Lettuce grows poorly in July and August heat. Use the break to start your fall crop.
- Try overwintering. Young transplants set out in mid-fall can survive winter under a row cover or cold frame and give you the earliest spring salads.
- Water in the morning, lightly and often, so the leaves dry during the day and diseases don’t take hold.
Harvesting lettuce
Pick leaf lettuce when plants are 5–6 inches tall, starting with the outer leaves, or cut whole plants an inch above the soil: they often regrow for a second cut in two to three weeks. Harvest butterhead when the leaves cup inward, romaine when it forms a head 6–8 inches tall, and crisphead when the head feels firm. Store lettuce dry and unwashed in a bag in the refrigerator.
Lettuce planting dates in nearby zones
See dates for every zone on the lettuce planting guide, or build a full schedule with the planting calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to plant lettuce in zone 7 in April?
For spring, it is getting late: lettuce sown in April matures in warm weather and may bolt. Choose a heat-tolerant leaf variety, or wait and sow your fall crop in late summer.
Can I grow lettuce in summer in zone 7?
It is hard. High summer heat and long days make lettuce bolt and taste bitter. Heat-tolerant leaf and oak-leaf types in partial shade give you the best chance.
Can I plant lettuce before the last frost?
Yes. Lettuce tolerates light frost and grows best in cool weather, so it is planted three to four weeks before your last spring frost.
How often should I sow lettuce?
Sow a short row every couple of weeks. That gives you a steady supply instead of more lettuce than you can eat at once.
Why is my lettuce bitter?
Heat and long days make lettuce bolt and turn bitter. Harvest before hot weather, and choose slow-bolting varieties for late spring.
Sources. Planting dates use the median frost dates of each USDA zone, calculated from NOAA climate data for every ZIP code in the zone.