North Carolina growing guide
When to Plant Lettuce in North Carolina
Last reviewed by GardenSproutly against the sources listed on this page.
Lettuce is a cool-season crop that grows best in the cool weather of spring and fall. High temperatures (70–80°F) and dry soil can trigger bolting, which turns the leaves bitter and stops leaf production.[1]
The main types are head lettuce, romaine, leaf lettuce, and butterhead. NC State's planting calendars list leaf and head lettuce separately because their timing differs.[1],[2],[3],[4]
- How to plant
- Seeds or transplants (head lettuce in the eastern and central calendars: seed early, transplants later)[2],[3],[4]
- Days to harvest
- Leaf: 40–50 from seed, 15–25 from transplants. Head: 70–85 from seed, 45–60 from transplants[3]
- Spacing
- Leaf lettuce 6 in.; head lettuce 10 in.[3]
- Seed depth
- ¼–⅜ in.[1]
- Soil pH
- 6.0–6.7[1]
Lettuce planting dates by region
Outdoor planting windows from NC State Extension's regional calendars[2],[3],[4], with indoor seed-starting dates and harvest estimates worked out from them. Adjust for your local frost dates and weather.
Lettuce, leaf
Eastern North Carolina
Coastal Plain
- Sow seeds outdoors
- Feb 1 – Apr 15Estimated harvest: Mar 13 – Jun 4Aug 1 – Oct 1Estimated harvest: Sep 10 – Nov 20
- Set out transplants
- Feb 1 – Apr 15Start seeds indoors about Dec 7 – Dec 21 (6–8 weeks earlier)Estimated harvest: Feb 16 – May 10Aug 1 – Sep 15Start seeds indoors about Jun 6 – Jun 20 (6–8 weeks earlier)Estimated harvest: Aug 16 – Oct 10
Days to harvest: T = 15–25; S = 40–50Spacing: 6 in.
Central North Carolina
Piedmont
- Sow seeds outdoors
- Feb 1 – Apr 15Estimated harvest: Mar 13 – Jun 4Aug 1 – Sep 15Estimated harvest: Sep 10 – Nov 4
- Set out transplants
- Feb 1 – Apr 15Start seeds indoors about Dec 7 – Dec 21 (6–8 weeks earlier)Estimated harvest: Feb 16 – May 10Aug 1 – Sep 15Start seeds indoors about Jun 6 – Jun 20 (6–8 weeks earlier)Estimated harvest: Aug 16 – Oct 10
Days to harvest: T = 15–25; S = 40–50Spacing: 6 in.
Western North Carolina
Mountains
- Sow seeds outdoors
- Mar 15 – Apr 1Estimated harvest: Apr 24 – May 21Jul 15 – Aug 15Estimated harvest: Aug 24 – Oct 4
- Set out transplants
- Mar 15 – Apr 1Start seeds indoors about Jan 18 – Feb 1 (6–8 weeks earlier)Estimated harvest: Mar 30 – Apr 26Jul 15 – Aug 15Start seeds indoors about May 20 – Jun 3 (6–8 weeks earlier)Estimated harvest: Jul 30 – Sep 9
Days to harvest: T = 15–25; S = 40–50Spacing: 6 in.
Lettuce, head
Eastern North Carolina
Coastal Plain
- Sow seeds outdoors
- Feb 1 – Mar 1Estimated harvest: Apr 12 – May 25Aug 15 – Sep 1Estimated harvest: Oct 24 – Nov 25
- Set out transplants
- Mar 15 – Apr 15Start seeds indoors about Jan 18 – Feb 1 (6–8 weeks earlier)Estimated harvest: Apr 29 – Jun 14Sep 15 – Oct 1Start seeds indoors about Jul 21 – Aug 4 (6–8 weeks earlier)Estimated harvest: Oct 30 – Nov 30
Days to harvest: T = 45–60; S = 70–85Spacing: 10 in.
Central North Carolina
Piedmont
- Sow seeds outdoors
- Feb 1 – Mar 1Estimated harvest: Apr 12 – May 25Aug 15 – Sep 1Estimated harvest: Oct 24 – Nov 25
- Set out transplants
- Mar 15 – Apr 15Start seeds indoors about Jan 18 – Feb 1 (6–8 weeks earlier)Estimated harvest: Apr 29 – Jun 14Sep 15 – Oct 1Start seeds indoors about Jul 21 – Aug 4 (6–8 weeks earlier)Estimated harvest: Oct 30 – Nov 30
Days to harvest: T = 45–60; S = 70–85Spacing: 10 in.
Western North Carolina
Mountains
- Sow seeds outdoors
- Mar 15 – Apr 15Estimated harvest: May 24 – Jul 9Jul 15 – Aug 15Estimated harvest: Sep 23 – Nov 8
Days to harvest: T = 45–60; S = 70–85Spacing: 10 in.
Choosing lettuce for North Carolina's heat
Leaf and butterhead types tolerate heat better than romaine, and romaine handles heat better than head lettuce. If you are growing where it gets warm, consider heat-tolerant varieties.[1]
Sowing and transplanting
- For a spring crop, either start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost for transplanting, or sow directly in the garden about two weeks before the last frost. For a fall crop, sow about three months before the first frost.[1]
- Plant seeds ¼ to ⅜ inch deep, or sprinkle leaf lettuce seed on the surface and mix it into the top inch of soil.[1]
- Small seeds like lettuce are hard to sow thinly. Tap seed from a torn corner of the packet as you move along the furrow, or mix seed with dry sand for even spreading.[5]
- Growing transplants indoors takes about 4 to 5 weeks at 55–65°F days and 50–55°F nights, and can help spring lettuce mature before hot weather causes bolting.[5]
- Sow more seed every two weeks to extend the harvest.[1]
Watering and summer care
Lettuce has shallow roots and needs consistently moist soil for good growth and flavor. If you grow it in summer, give it 3 to 4 hours of sun and shade for the rest of the day. Lettuce also grows well in containers of at least 2 quarts that are 6 to 8 inches deep.[1]
Harvesting lettuce
Pick the older outer leaves of leaf lettuce once they are 4 to 6 inches long. New leaves keep growing from the center. Harvest heading types when the heads are moderately firm and before seed stalks form.[5]
You can also pick baby leaves at 2 to 3 inches, or cut the whole plant at or above the soil surface.[1]
Common problems
Aphids, armyworms, imported cabbage worms, and loopers attack lettuce, and pest pressure is much higher on summer and fall crops than on spring crops. Damping-off is a serious disease of young seedlings, while mildews and Sclerotinia affect mature plants.[1]
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant lettuce in North Carolina?
Eastern North Carolina: Lettuce, leaf: sow seeds outdoors Feb 1 – Apr 15; Aug 1 – Oct 1; set out transplants Feb 1 – Apr 15; Aug 1 – Sep 15. Lettuce, head: sow seeds outdoors Feb 1 – Mar 1; Aug 15 – Sep 1; set out transplants Mar 15 – Apr 15; Sep 15 – Oct 1. Central North Carolina: Lettuce, leaf: sow seeds outdoors Feb 1 – Apr 15; Aug 1 – Sep 15; set out transplants Feb 1 – Apr 15; Aug 1 – Sep 15. Lettuce, head: sow seeds outdoors Feb 1 – Mar 1; Aug 15 – Sep 1; set out transplants Mar 15 – Apr 15; Sep 15 – Oct 1. Western North Carolina: Lettuce, leaf: sow seeds outdoors Mar 15 – Apr 1; Jul 15 – Aug 15; set out transplants Mar 15 – Apr 1; Jul 15 – Aug 15. Lettuce, head: sow seeds outdoors Mar 15 – Apr 15; Jul 15 – Aug 15.[2],[3],[4]
Why did my lettuce turn bitter?
High temperatures (70–80°F) and dry soil can trigger bolting, when lettuce sends up a flower stalk and its leaves turn bitter. Planting in the cool seasons, keeping the soil moist, and choosing heat-tolerant types all help.[1]
Sources
- [1]Lactuca sativa (Lettuce) — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension. Checked October 11, 2026.
Supports: Lettuce types, soil pH, bolting triggers, seed depth, spacing, succession sowing, days to harvest, and pests. Scope: North Carolina.
- [2]Eastern North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs (AG-756-02) — NC State Extension. Published June 15, 2016. Checked October 11, 2026.
Supports: Outdoor planting dates, planting methods, days to harvest, and plant spacing for eastern North Carolina. Scope: Eastern North Carolina. The publication does not define county boundaries.
- [3]Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs (AG-756-01) — NC State Extension. Published July 8, 2016. Checked October 11, 2026.
Supports: Outdoor planting dates, planting methods, days to harvest, plant spacing, and the 6–8 week transplant-starting rule for central North Carolina. Scope: Central North Carolina. The publication does not define county boundaries.
- [4]Western North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs (AG-756-03) — NC State Extension. Published August 4, 2016. Checked October 11, 2026.
Supports: Outdoor planting dates, planting methods, days to harvest, and plant spacing for western North Carolina, plus regional pest-timing advice. Scope: Western North Carolina. The publication does not define county boundaries.
- [5]Extension Gardener Handbook, Chapter 16: Vegetable Gardening — NC State Extension. Published February 1, 2022. Checked October 11, 2026.
Supports: Cool- and warm-season crop groupings, seed-sowing depth, transplant growing times and temperatures (Table 16-3), soil preparation, succession planting, and harvest indicators. Scope: Written for North Carolina and the southeastern United States.