Rainline Garden

When to plant lettuce in Oregon and Washington

In Portland: Plant lettuce in the garden Mar 1 – Apr 26, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Jan 18 – Feb 1. For a fall harvest, plant again Aug 20 – Sep 3. In Bend: Apr 28 – Jun 23. Find your city below.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun in spring; afternoon shade in summer
Spacing
8 to 10 inches apart for heads
Planting depth
¼ inch deep (it needs light to sprout)
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 50 days after planting

Tolerates light frost. Sow every two to three weeks; choose heat-tolerant types for later sowings.

Lettuce planting dates by city

CityStart seeds indoorsPlant in the gardenPlant again for fall
Astoria, ORFeb 11–25Mar 25 – May 20Aug 20 – Sep 3
Baker City, ORMar 9–23Apr 20 – Jun 15Jul 21 – Aug 4
Bend and Redmond, ORMar 17–31Apr 28 – Jun 23Jul 20 – Aug 3
Burns, ORMar 19 – Apr 2Apr 30 – Jun 25Jul 12–26
Coos Bay and North Bend, ORFeb 11–25Mar 25 – May 20Aug 20 – Sep 3
Eugene, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
Gresham, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
Klamath Falls, ORMar 17–31Apr 28 – Jun 23Jul 24 – Aug 7
Medford, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
Pendleton, ORFeb 6–20Mar 20 – May 15Aug 20 – Sep 3
Portland, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
Roseburg, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
Salem, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
The Dalles, ORFeb 6–20Mar 20 – May 15Aug 20 – Sep 3
Wilsonville and Canby, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WAFeb 11–25Mar 25 – May 20Aug 20 – Sep 3
Bellingham, WAJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
Ellensburg, WAFeb 18 – Mar 4Apr 1 – May 27Aug 12–26
Everett, WAJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
Forks, WAFeb 11–25Mar 25 – May 20Aug 20 – Sep 3
Moses Lake, WAFeb 6–20Mar 20 – May 15Aug 13–27
Olympia, WAFeb 4–18Mar 18 – May 13Aug 19 – Sep 2
Omak and Okanogan, WAFeb 18 – Mar 4Apr 1 – May 27Aug 12–26
Seattle and Tacoma, WAJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
Spokane, WAFeb 18 – Mar 4Apr 1 – May 27Aug 17–31
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WAFeb 6–20Mar 20 – May 15Aug 16–30
Vancouver, WAJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Apr 26Aug 20 – Sep 3
Walla Walla, WAFeb 6–20Mar 20 – May 15Aug 20 – Sep 3
Wenatchee, WAFeb 6–20Mar 20 – May 15Aug 20 – Sep 3
Yakima, WAFeb 13–27Mar 27 – May 22Aug 9–23

How to grow lettuce

  1. Start seeds indoors on your city's dates in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 8 to 10 inches apart for heads. If you plant seeds instead, sow them ¼ inch deep (it needs light to sprout).
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Plant again on your city's dates for a fall harvest.
  6. Harvest: Pick outer leaves as needed, or cut whole heads when full. Harvest in the morning for the crispest leaves.

Varieties that do well in the Northwest

Watch out for

Slugs are the Northwest lettuce pest. Iron phosphate slug bait is safe around pets and edible crops.

More salad greens

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