Zone 10 · Leafy Greens Growing Guide

When to Plant Lettuce (Leaf)
in Zone 10

One of the fastest crops in the garden. Sow directly, harvest outer leaves as cut-and-come-again. Bolts in heat — succession sow every 2 weeks through spring and again in fall.

Plant outdoors
Oct 1 – Feb 1
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Jan 15
Days to harvest
30–45 days
Difficulty
Easy
Late season — Zone 10
Harvest window: Nov – Mar

Planting Calendar

In Zone 10, Lettuce (Leaf) should be planted outdoors Oct 1 – Feb 1, after the average last frost date of approximately Jan 15.

Cool season only. Brief but very productive fall/winter window.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade · 3–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
6–8 inches
Soil
Fertile, moisture-retentive, well-draining
Days to maturity
30–45 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
plant tip · Zone 10

Cool season only. Brief but very productive fall/winter window.

Feeding Schedule

How often
every 3 weeks
Feed type
high nitrogen
Key timing
throughout growing season

Leafy crops need consistent nitrogen. Liquid feed every 3 weeks. Hot conditions cause bolting regardless of feeding.

Succession Planting

Sow every 2 weeks

Sow every 2 weeks from your last frost date through early summer, then again in late summer for autumn harvests. This gives you continuous salad rather than a glut you can't eat.

Companion Planting for Lettuce (Leaf)

What you plant next to lettuce (leaf) makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Carrots
  • Radishes
  • Strawberries
  • Onions
Keep away from
  • Celery
  • Parsley
  • Fennel

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Common questions

In Zone 10, lettuce (leaf) is a fall-planted crop. Plant outdoors Oct 1 – Feb 1 once temperatures cool in autumn. It overwinters and is ready to harvest around Nov – Mar. No last frost consideration — plant before the ground freezes.
Zone 10 has an average last spring frost of approximately Jan 15 and a first fall frost around Dec 31. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for lettuce (leaf) include Carrots, Radishes, Strawberries, Onions. Avoid planting near Celery, Parsley, Fennel, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Lettuce (Leaf) typically takes 30–45 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 10. Expected harvest window: Nov – Mar.

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Lettuce (Leaf) in other zones
Crop Guides