Zone 8 · Leafy Greens Growing Guide

When to Plant Lettuce (Leaf)
in Zone 8

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
Feb 1 – Mar 15, Sep 15 – Nov 15
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Feb 15
Days to harvest
30–45 days
Difficulty
Easy
Ready to harvest — Zone 8
Harvest window: Feb – May, Oct – Feb

Planting Calendar

In Zone 8, Lettuce (Leaf) should be planted outdoors Feb 1 – Mar 15, Sep 15 – Nov 15, after the average last frost date of approximately Feb 15.

Fall and winter is peak lettuce season in Zone 8. Spring brief. Summer not suitable.

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 8

Fall and winter is peak lettuce season in Zone 8. Spring brief. Summer not suitable.

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 8, lettuce (leaf) has two planting windows: Feb 1 – Mar 15, Sep 15 – Nov 15. The spring window opens after your last frost around Feb 15. The fall window lets you grow a second crop before first frost around Dec 1. Fall and winter is peak lettuce season in Zone 8. Spring brief. Summer not suitable.
Zone 8 has an average last spring frost of approximately Feb 15 and a first fall frost around Dec 1. 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 8. Expected harvest window: Feb – May, Oct – Feb.

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Lettuce (Leaf) in other zones
Crop Guides