Arkansas · zones 6b–8a
When to plant lettuce in Arkansas.
Sow between Feb 15 to Apr 1 in a typical year, keyed to Arkansas's median last frost around Mar 25. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 22 to Oct 21. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Lettuce dates for a typical Arkansas season.
Direct sow
Feb 15 to Apr 1
Keyed to the ~Mar 25 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 6" apart.
Fall round
Aug 22 to Oct 21
Counted back from the ~Nov 5 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~0.4 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
Arkansas spans more than one climate: Zone 8 is the most common zone, but the state runs 6b to 8a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Arkansas: watch for
The pests that find lettuce here.
A middle-length season, about 225 frost-free days, means lettuce, leaf overlaps aphids for a stretch each summer. Check plants every week or two and treat early.
Clusters tucked into the heart of the head.
Organic fix: Rinse well; insecticidal soap on young plants.
Ragged holes and slime trails, worse after rain.
Organic fix: Iron-phosphate bait; a diatomaceous-earth ring; hand-pick at night.
Seedlings clipped off at the soil line overnight.
Organic fix: Collars around the stems; Bt or diatomaceous earth.
Pale yellow patches boxed in by the leaf veins, with white fuzz underneath.
Organic fix: Give plants room, let them dry between waterings, clear old leaves, and pick resistant varieties.
Your season math: Arkansas gives lettuce about 225 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 45 days to a first harvest. That fits about 19 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting lettuce in Arkansas: questions
When should I plant lettuce in Arkansas?+
In a typical Arkansas year, sow lettuce between Feb 15 to Apr 1, keyed to the state's median last frost around Mar 25. There's also a fall window: Aug 22 to Oct 21. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Arkansas?+
Arkansas spans zones 6b–8a, mostly zone 8. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many lettuce plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.