Rhode Island · zones 6b–7a
When to plant lettuce in Rhode Island.
Sow between Mar 3 to Apr 17 in a typical year, keyed to Rhode Island's median last frost around Apr 10. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 13 to Oct 12. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Lettuce dates for a typical Rhode Island season.
Direct sow
Mar 3 to Apr 17
Keyed to the ~Apr 10 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 6" apart.
Fall round
Aug 13 to Oct 12
Counted back from the ~Oct 27 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~0.4 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
Rhode Island spans more than one climate: Zone 6 is the most common zone, but the state runs 6b to 7a. 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 Rhode Island: watch for
The pests that find lettuce here.
A middle-length season, about 200 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: Rhode Island gives lettuce about 200 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 45 days to a first harvest. That fits about 16 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting lettuce in Rhode Island: questions
When should I plant lettuce in Rhode Island?+
In a typical Rhode Island year, sow lettuce between Mar 3 to Apr 17, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 10. There's also a fall window: Aug 13 to Oct 12. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Rhode Island?+
Rhode Island spans zones 6b–7a, mostly zone 6. 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.