When to plant lettuce in North Carolina

Plant out in Charlotte

Mar 16–Apr 6

Across North Carolina the window opens between March 1 and April 2. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Charlotte: Feb 2–Feb 16
Plant out, Charlotte: Mar 16–Apr 6
Sow outdoors, Charlotte: Mar 2–Apr 6
Fall planting, Charlotte: Sep 8–Sep 22
Last frost, Charlotte: Mar 30

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

CharlotteMar 16–Apr 6

RaleighMar 14–Apr 4

GreensboroMar 18–Apr 8

DurhamMar 19–Apr 9

Winston-SalemMar 12–Apr 2

FayettevilleMar 16–Apr 6

CaryMar 13–Apr 3

WilmingtonMar 5–Mar 26

High PointMar 16–Apr 6

ConcordMar 18–Apr 8

GreenvilleMar 13–Apr 3

AshevilleMar 23–Apr 13

GastoniaMar 13–Apr 3

ApexMar 13–Apr 3

JacksonvilleMar 9–Mar 30

HuntersvilleMar 16–Apr 6

Chapel HillMar 15–Apr 5

KannapolisMar 18–Apr 8

BurlingtonMar 15–Apr 5

Wake ForestMar 21–Apr 11

MooresvilleMar 26–Apr 16

Rocky MountMar 17–Apr 7

Holly SpringsMar 23–Apr 13

WilsonMar 8–Mar 29

Fuquay-VarinaMar 18–Apr 8

HickoryMar 17–Apr 7

Indian TrailMar 17–Apr 7

MonroeMar 20–Apr 10

GarnerMar 18–Apr 8

SalisburyMar 23–Apr 13

All 52 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Sow outdoors	Fall planting	Last frost
Charlotte	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Mar 16 to Apr 6	Mar 2 to Apr 6	Sep 8 to Sep 22	Mar 30
Raleigh	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Mar 14 to Apr 4	Feb 28 to Apr 4	Sep 13 to Sep 27	Mar 28
Greensboro	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Mar 4 to Apr 8	Sep 9 to Sep 23	Apr 1
Durham	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Mar 5 to Apr 9	Sep 9 to Sep 23	Apr 2
Winston-Salem	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Feb 26 to Apr 2	Sep 14 to Sep 28	Mar 26
Fayetteville	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Mar 16 to Apr 6	Mar 2 to Apr 6	Sep 15 to Sep 29	Mar 30
Cary	Jan 30 to Feb 13	Mar 13 to Apr 3	Feb 27 to Apr 3	Sep 13 to Sep 27	Mar 27
Wilmington	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Mar 5 to Mar 26	Feb 19 to Mar 26	Sep 25 to Oct 9	Mar 19
High Point	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Mar 16 to Apr 6	Mar 2 to Apr 6	Sep 10 to Sep 24	Mar 30
Concord	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Mar 4 to Apr 8	Sep 7 to Sep 21	Apr 1
Greenville	Jan 30 to Feb 13	Mar 13 to Apr 3	Feb 27 to Apr 3	Sep 13 to Sep 27	Mar 27
Asheville	Feb 9 to Feb 23	Mar 23 to Apr 13	Mar 9 to Apr 13	Sep 5 to Sep 19	Apr 6
Gastonia	Jan 30 to Feb 13	Mar 13 to Apr 3	Feb 27 to Apr 3	Sep 14 to Sep 28	Mar 27
Apex	Jan 30 to Feb 13	Mar 13 to Apr 3	Feb 27 to Apr 3	Sep 13 to Sep 27	Mar 27
Jacksonville	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Mar 9 to Mar 30	Feb 23 to Mar 30	Sep 21 to Oct 5	Mar 23
Huntersville	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Mar 16 to Apr 6	Mar 2 to Apr 6	Sep 8 to Sep 22	Mar 30
Chapel Hill	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Mar 15 to Apr 5	Mar 1 to Apr 5	Sep 10 to Sep 24	Mar 29
Kannapolis	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Mar 4 to Apr 8	Sep 7 to Sep 21	Apr 1
Burlington	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Mar 15 to Apr 5	Mar 1 to Apr 5	Sep 14 to Sep 28	Mar 29
Wake Forest	Feb 7 to Feb 21	Mar 21 to Apr 11	Mar 7 to Apr 11	Sep 9 to Sep 23	Apr 4
Mooresville	Feb 12 to Feb 26	Mar 26 to Apr 16	Mar 12 to Apr 16	Sep 2 to Sep 16	Apr 9
Rocky Mount	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 17 to Apr 7	Mar 3 to Apr 7	Sep 12 to Sep 26	Mar 31
Holly Springs	Feb 9 to Feb 23	Mar 23 to Apr 13	Mar 9 to Apr 13	Sep 8 to Sep 22	Apr 6
Wilson	Jan 25 to Feb 8	Mar 8 to Mar 29	Feb 22 to Mar 29	Sep 17 to Oct 1	Mar 22
Fuquay-Varina	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Mar 4 to Apr 8	Sep 6 to Sep 20	Apr 1
Hickory	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 17 to Apr 7	Mar 3 to Apr 7	Sep 9 to Sep 23	Mar 31
Indian Trail	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 17 to Apr 7	Mar 3 to Apr 7	Sep 10 to Sep 24	Mar 31
Monroe	Feb 6 to Feb 20	Mar 20 to Apr 10	Mar 6 to Apr 10	Sep 6 to Sep 20	Apr 3
Garner	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Mar 4 to Apr 8	Sep 6 to Sep 20	Apr 1
Salisbury	Feb 9 to Feb 23	Mar 23 to Apr 13	Mar 9 to Apr 13	Sep 4 to Sep 18	Apr 6
Leland	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Mar 5 to Mar 26	Feb 19 to Mar 26	Sep 25 to Oct 9	Mar 19
Cornelius	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Mar 4 to Apr 8	Sep 7 to Sep 21	Apr 1
Goldsboro	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Mar 1 to Mar 22	Feb 15 to Mar 22	Sep 23 to Oct 7	Mar 15
New Bern	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Mar 9 to Mar 30	Feb 23 to Mar 30	Sep 20 to Oct 4	Mar 23
Sanford	Feb 13 to Feb 27	Mar 27 to Apr 17	Mar 13 to Apr 17	Sep 4 to Sep 18	Apr 10
Matthews	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 17 to Apr 7	Mar 3 to Apr 7	Sep 10 to Sep 24	Mar 31
Clayton	Feb 10 to Feb 24	Mar 24 to Apr 14	Mar 10 to Apr 14	Sep 8 to Sep 22	Apr 7
Morrisville	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 17 to Apr 7	Mar 3 to Apr 7	Sep 9 to Sep 23	Mar 31
Statesville	Feb 19 to Mar 5	Apr 2 to Apr 23	Mar 19 to Apr 23	Aug 30 to Sep 13	Apr 16
Mint Hill	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 17 to Apr 7	Mar 3 to Apr 7	Sep 10 to Sep 24	Mar 31
Kernersville	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Mar 16 to Apr 6	Mar 2 to Apr 6	Sep 10 to Sep 24	Mar 30
Asheboro	Feb 8 to Feb 22	Mar 22 to Apr 12	Mar 8 to Apr 12	Sep 5 to Sep 19	Apr 5
Thomasville	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Mar 16 to Apr 6	Mar 2 to Apr 6	Sep 10 to Sep 24	Mar 30
Shelby	Feb 15 to Mar 1	Mar 29 to Apr 19	Mar 15 to Apr 19	Aug 30 to Sep 13	Apr 12
Knightdale	Feb 10 to Feb 24	Mar 24 to Apr 14	Mar 10 to Apr 14	Sep 8 to Sep 22	Apr 7
Waxhaw	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 17 to Apr 7	Mar 3 to Apr 7	Sep 10 to Sep 24	Mar 31
Clemmons	Feb 12 to Feb 26	Mar 26 to Apr 16	Mar 12 to Apr 16	Sep 5 to Sep 19	Apr 9
Mebane	Feb 7 to Feb 21	Mar 21 to Apr 11	Mar 7 to Apr 11	Sep 8 to Sep 22	Apr 4
Carrboro	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 17 to Apr 7	Mar 3 to Apr 7	Sep 8 to Sep 22	Mar 31
Harrisburg	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Mar 4 to Apr 8	Sep 7 to Sep 21	Apr 1
Lexington	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Mar 28 to Apr 18	Mar 14 to Apr 18	Sep 2 to Sep 16	Apr 11
Graham	Feb 7 to Feb 21	Mar 21 to Apr 11	Mar 7 to Apr 11	Sep 8 to Sep 22	Apr 4

Questions

When should I plant lettuce in North Carolina?

In Charlotte, plant out from March 16 to April 6. Across North Carolina the window opens between March 1 and April 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 North Carolina

Lettuce in other states

Frost dates for every city in North Carolina