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 | Jan 1 – Feb 7 | Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
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 — 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.
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.