When to plant lettuce in Adelaide
Lettuce is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Adelaide's frost dates of Aug 15.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Jul 18 – Aug 8
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jul 25 – Aug 15
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Sep 8 – Sep 23
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
45 – 60 d
Adelaide's 304-day season leaves this much room.
Lettuce on Adelaide's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
AUG 15
JUN 15
Common questions
When can I sow lettuce outdoors in Adelaide?
Direct-sow around mid July (Jul 18–Aug 8) in Adelaide, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When will lettuce be ready to harvest in Adelaide?
Expect to harvest from around early September (Sep 8–Sep 23) in Adelaide, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 72%.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Adelaide?
Start seeds indoors around mid July (Jul 18–Aug 8) in Adelaide, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 76%.
When can I transplant lettuce outdoors in Adelaide?
Transplant outdoors around late July (Jul 25–Aug 15) in Adelaide, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
How long is the growing season in Adelaide?
Adelaide has roughly 304 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow lettuce to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow lettuce as soon as the soil is workable — it tolerates cool weather and light frost. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Adelaide's frost dates.
Confidence 80/100 · NOAA GHCN-Daily · 1991–2020 normals · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.