When can I plant romaine lettuce outside?

Direct sow or transplant 4 weeks before your last spring frost.

How long until romaine lettuce is ready to harvest?

55-75 days. Head is firm and full-sized for variety; can cut-and-come-again by harvesting outer leaves

When to Plant Romaine Lettuce

Lactuca sativa var. longifolia

vegetableZones 3–10beginner

Crisp, upright lettuce with excellent heat tolerance compared to other varieties. The essential base for Caesar salad. Grows well in spring and fall.

Planting calendar

Direct sow / transplant

4 weeks before your last spring frost.

Fall planting

8 weeks before your first fall frost.

Succession plant every 2 weeks; provide shade cloth in summer to prevent bolting

Spacing & harvest

Plant spacing: 8-12 inches
Row spacing: 12-18 inches
Days to harvest: 55-75 days
Ready when: Head is firm and full-sized for variety; can cut-and-come-again by harvesting outer leaves

Companion planting

Plant near

Carrot — Lettuce shades soil keeping carrots cool
Radish — Quick-growing radishes mark rows and break soil
Onion — Good space companions
Chives — Deters aphids from lettuce

Get romaine lettuce planting dates for your exact zone

Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.

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Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns