North Dakota · zones 4a–4a
When to plant lettuce in North Dakota.
Sow between Apr 7 to May 22 in a typical year, keyed to North Dakota's median last frost around May 15. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 9 to Sep 7. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Lettuce dates for a typical North Dakota season.
Direct sow
Apr 7 to May 22
Keyed to the ~May 15 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 6" apart.
Fall round
Jul 9 to Sep 7
Counted back from the ~Sep 22 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~0.4 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
North Dakota spans more than one climate: Zone 4 is the most common zone, but the state runs 4a to 4a. 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 Dakota: watch for
The pests that find lettuce here.
The short season here, about 130 frost-free days, keeps lettuce, leaf in front of aphids only briefly. One early row cover usually carries a planting through the worst of it.
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 Dakota gives lettuce about 130 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 45 days to a first harvest. That fits about 9 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting lettuce in North Dakota: questions
When should I plant lettuce in North Dakota?+
In a typical North Dakota year, sow lettuce between Apr 7 to May 22, keyed to the state's median last frost around May 15. There's also a fall window: Jul 9 to Sep 7. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is North Dakota?+
North Dakota spans zones 4a–4a, mostly zone 4. 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.