Maine · zones 3b–6a
When to plant lettuce in Maine.
Sow between Mar 31 to May 15 in a typical year, keyed to Maine's median last frost around May 8. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 24 to Sep 22. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Lettuce dates for a typical Maine season.
Direct sow
Mar 31 to May 15
Keyed to the ~May 8 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 6" apart.
Fall round
Jul 24 to Sep 22
Counted back from the ~Oct 7 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~0.4 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
Maine spans more than one climate: Zone 5 is the most common zone, but the state runs 3b to 6a. 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 Maine: watch for
The pests that find lettuce here.
A middle-length season, about 152 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: Maine gives lettuce about 152 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 45 days to a first harvest. That fits about 11 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting lettuce in Maine: questions
When should I plant lettuce in Maine?+
In a typical Maine year, sow lettuce between Mar 31 to May 15, keyed to the state's median last frost around May 8. There's also a fall window: Jul 24 to Sep 22. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Maine?+
Maine spans zones 3b–6a, mostly zone 5. 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.