South Carolina · zones 8a–9a
When to plant lettuce in South Carolina.
Sow between Feb 17 to Apr 3 in a typical year, keyed to South Carolina's median last frost around Mar 27. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 19 to Oct 18. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Lettuce dates for a typical South Carolina season.
Direct sow
Feb 17 to Apr 3
Keyed to the ~Mar 27 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 6" apart.
Fall round
Aug 19 to Oct 18
Counted back from the ~Nov 2 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~0.4 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
South Carolina spans more than one climate: Zone 8 is the most common zone, but the state runs 8a to 9a. 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 South Carolina: watch for
The pests that find lettuce here.
A middle-length season, about 220 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: South Carolina gives lettuce about 220 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 45 days to a first harvest. That fits about 18 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting lettuce in South Carolina: questions
When should I plant lettuce in South Carolina?+
In a typical South Carolina year, sow lettuce between Feb 17 to Apr 3, keyed to the state's median last frost around Mar 27. There's also a fall window: Aug 19 to Oct 18. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is South Carolina?+
South Carolina spans zones 8a–9a, 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.