West Virginia · zones 6a–7a
When to plant lettuce in West Virginia.
Sow between Mar 21 to May 5 in a typical year, keyed to West Virginia's median last frost around Apr 28. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 3 to Oct 2. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Lettuce dates for a typical West Virginia season.
Direct sow
Mar 21 to May 5
Keyed to the ~Apr 28 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 6" apart.
Fall round
Aug 3 to Oct 2
Counted back from the ~Oct 17 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~0.4 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
West Virginia spans more than one climate: Zone 6 is the most common zone, but the state runs 6a 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 West Virginia: watch for
The pests that find lettuce here.
A middle-length season, about 172 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: West Virginia gives lettuce about 172 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 45 days to a first harvest. That fits about 13 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting lettuce in West Virginia: questions
When should I plant lettuce in West Virginia?+
In a typical West Virginia year, sow lettuce between Mar 21 to May 5, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 28. There's also a fall window: Aug 3 to Oct 2. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is West Virginia?+
West Virginia spans zones 6a–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.