When to plant lettuce in Maine

Lettuce
Plant out in Portland
Apr 12–May 3

Across Maine the window opens between April 11 and May 2. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Portland
Mar 1–Mar 15
Plant out, Portland
Apr 12–May 3
Sow outdoors, Portland
Mar 29–May 3
Fall planting, Portland
Aug 20–Sep 3
Last frost, Portland
Apr 26

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 6–8 weeks before the first frost. Lettuce bolts in heat. Sow small batches every two weeks in spring and again in late summer.

Lettuce planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PortlandApr 12–May 3
LewistonApr 11–May 2
BangorApr 20–May 11
South PortlandApr 12–May 3
AuburnApr 11–May 2
SanfordMay 2–May 23
BiddefordApr 25–May 16
WestbrookApr 12–May 3
SacoApr 12–May 3

Questions

When should I plant lettuce in Maine?

In Portland, plant out from April 12 to May 3. Across Maine the window opens between April 11 and May 2, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 6–8 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Maine

Lettuce in other states

Frost dates for every city in Maine