When to plant lettuce in Louisville

Lettuce is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Louisville's frost dates of Apr 1.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 4 – Mar 25
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Mar 11 – Apr 1
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Apr 25 – May 10
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Aug 1 – Aug 15
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Sep 22 – Oct 7
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
45 – 60 d
Louisville's 212-day season leaves this much room.
Lettuce on Louisville'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 1
OCT 29

Common questions

When can I sow lettuce outdoors in Louisville?

Direct-sow around early March (Mar 4–Mar 25) in Louisville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 82%.

When will lettuce be ready to harvest in Louisville?

Expect to harvest from around late April (Apr 25–May 10) in Louisville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 74%.

When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Louisville?

Start seeds indoors around early March (Mar 4–Mar 25) in Louisville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.

When can I transplant lettuce outdoors in Louisville?

Transplant outdoors around mid March (Mar 11–Apr 1) in Louisville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 82%.

Can I plant lettuce in autumn in Louisville?

Yes — Louisville supports a second, autumn sowing of lettuce around early August (Aug 1–Aug 15), timed to mature before the first fall frost.

How long is the growing season in Louisville?

Louisville 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 Louisville's frost dates.

Confidence 82/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.