leafy · direct sow · beginner friendly
Lettuce: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating lettuce a few times a week needs about 18 plants in ~9 sq ft, worth about $29 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 5 | ~3 sq ft | ~9 | ~$8 |
| 2 people | 9 | ~5 sq ft | ~16 | ~$14 |
| 4 people | 18 | ~9 sq ft | ~32 | ~$29 |
| 6 people | 27 | ~14 sq ft | ~48 | ~$43 |
Spacing
6" in row · 12" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
45 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 7 – May 22 | Jul 2 – Aug 31 |
| Zone 4 | Apr 2 – May 17 | Jul 12 – Sep 10 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 23 – May 7 | Jul 22 – Sep 20 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 13 – Apr 27 | Aug 1 – Sep 30 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 26 – Apr 12 | Aug 11 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Sep 1 – Oct 31 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 13 – Feb 27 | Sep 21 – Nov 20 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 24 – Feb 7 | Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Leaves big enough to eat are ready, take outer leaves any time, or cut the whole plant while leaves are crisp and mild.
Don't wait: A rising central stalk means bolting: the leaves turn bitter fast, so cut immediately.
Yield
About 0.4 heads per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.4 lb). Re-sow every ~10 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Aphids · Slugs & snails · Cutworms · Downy mildew, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with carrot, radish, sweet corn, tomato. Keep away from fennel. Which of these hold up, and what not to plant after
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
17 kcal · 2.1 g fiber · 4 mg vitamin C · 247 mg potassium
Related varieties
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Lettuce planting questions
How many lettuce plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 5 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 18 plants, which takes around 9 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does lettuce need?+
Space plants 6" apart in the row with 12" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant lettuce?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing lettuce worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~0.4 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $29 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.