North Carolina · zones 7a–8b
When to plant lettuce in North Carolina.
Sow between Feb 24 to Apr 10 in a typical year, keyed to North Carolina's median last frost around Apr 3. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 20 to Oct 19. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Lettuce dates for a typical North Carolina season.
Direct sow
Feb 24 to Apr 10
Keyed to the ~Apr 3 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 6" apart.
Fall round
Aug 20 to Oct 19
Counted back from the ~Nov 3 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~0.4 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
North Carolina spans more than one climate: Zone 8 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7a to 8b. 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 North Carolina: watch for
The pests that find lettuce here.
A middle-length season, about 214 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: North Carolina gives lettuce about 214 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 45 days to a first harvest. That fits about 17 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting lettuce in North Carolina: questions
When should I plant lettuce in North Carolina?+
In a typical North Carolina year, sow lettuce between Feb 24 to Apr 10, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 3. There's also a fall window: Aug 20 to Oct 19. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is North Carolina?+
North Carolina spans zones 7a–8b, 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.