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When to plant lettuce in Kansas City

Lettuce is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Kansas City's frost dates of Apr 3.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 6 – Mar 27
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Mar 13 – Apr 3
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Apr 27 – May 12
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Jul 29 – Aug 12
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Sep 19 – Oct 4
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
45 – 60 d
Kansas City's 212-day season leaves this much room.
Lettuce on Kansas City'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
APR 3
OCT 30

Common questions

When can I sow lettuce outdoors in Kansas City?

Direct-sow around early March (Mar 6–Mar 27) in Kansas City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 87%.

When will lettuce be ready to harvest in Kansas City?

Expect to harvest from around late April (Apr 27–May 12) in Kansas City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.

When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Kansas City?

Start seeds indoors around early March (Mar 6–Mar 27) in Kansas City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 83%.

When can I transplant lettuce outdoors in Kansas City?

Transplant outdoors around mid March (Mar 13–Apr 3) in Kansas City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 87%.

Can I plant lettuce in autumn in Kansas City?

Yes — Kansas City supports a second, autumn sowing of lettuce around late July (Jul 29–Aug 12), timed to mature before the first fall frost.

How long is the growing season in Kansas City?

Kansas City has roughly 212 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 Kansas City's frost dates.

Confidence 87/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.
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