California · zones 7a–10b
When to plant lettuce in California.
Sow between Dec 7 to Jan 21 in a typical year, keyed to California's median last frost around Jan 14. A second, fall sowing fits Sep 30 to Nov 29. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Lettuce dates for a typical California season.
Direct sow
Dec 7 to Jan 21
Keyed to the ~Jan 14 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 6" apart.
Fall round
Sep 30 to Nov 29
Counted back from the ~Dec 14 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~0.4 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
California spans more than one climate: Zone 10 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7a to 10b. 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 California: watch for
The pests that find lettuce here.
With about 334 frost-free days, lettuce, leaf spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which aphids can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
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: California gives lettuce about 334 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 45 days to a first harvest. That fits about 29 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting lettuce in California: questions
When should I plant lettuce in California?+
In a typical California year, sow lettuce between Dec 7 to Jan 21, keyed to the state's median last frost around Jan 14. There's also a fall window: Sep 30 to Nov 29. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is California?+
California spans zones 7a–10b, mostly zone 10. 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.