When to plant lettuce in Bend and Redmond, OR

Plant lettuce in the garden in Bend and Redmond Apr 28 – Jun 23, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Mar 17–31. For a fall harvest, plant again Jul 20 – Aug 3.

Easy Plant seeds or young plants

Why these dates

Bend and Redmond's typical last spring frost is June 9. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 6 weeks before that.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

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

Step by step

Start seeds indoors Mar 17–31 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.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden Apr 28 – Jun 23, 8 to 10 inches apart for heads. If you plant seeds instead, sow them ¼ inch deep (it needs light to sprout).
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Plant again Jul 20 – Aug 3 for a fall harvest.
Harvest: Pick outer leaves as needed, or cut whole heads when full. Harvest in the morning for the crispest leaves.

Varieties that do well here

Buttercrunch
Black Seeded Simpson
Winter Density

Watch out for

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

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

Common questions

When is the last frost in Bend and Redmond, OR?

Typically June 9. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 26. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Redmond Roberts Field.

Is it too late to plant lettuce in Bend and Redmond?

The spring planting window runs through June 23. If you miss it, plant again for fall from July 20 to August 3.

When should I start lettuce from seed indoors in Bend and Redmond?

March 17 to March 31, which is 6 to 4 weeks before the April 28 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

How to Harden Off Seedlings Before Planting OutSeedlings raised indoors need a week or two to adjust to sun, wind and cool nights. Here's a simple day-by-day schedule that works in a Northwest spring.
Succession Planting: Steady Harvests Instead of All at OnceSow small amounts every few weeks and follow early crops with later ones. Here's how to time it with Northwest planting windows.
Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors: A Northwest TimelineWhen to start tomatoes, peppers and other seeds indoors in Oregon and Washington, plus the simple setup that grows strong seedlings.
How Much to Water Vegetables in a Dry Northwest SummerThe Northwest is rainy for nine months and bone dry for three. How much water vegetables need in summer, when to water, and how to waste less of it.
Raised Beds for Rainy Northwest GardensWhy raised beds suit the Northwest so well, how big and deep to build them, what to fill them with, and the mistakes to avoid.
Growing Vegetables in Containers on a Northwest Balcony or PatioNo yard? Herbs, greens, tomatoes and more grow well in pots. Container sizes, soil, watering and the best crops for small Northwest spaces.
Fall and Winter Vegetable Gardening West of the CascadesHow to keep harvesting kale, carrots, garlic and greens through a mild Northwest winter, and when to plant for it.
Gardening in Bend and Central Oregon's Short SeasonHow to grow vegetables where frost can come almost any month: what to plant, when, and how to protect it.
How to Control Slugs in a Northwest GardenPractical, pet-safe ways to protect seedlings, lettuce and strawberries from the Pacific Northwest's most famous garden pest.

Also plant in Bend and Redmond around the same time

Planting dates for lettuce in nearby areas

Klamath Falls, OR Apr 28 – Jun 23
Burns, OR Apr 30 – Jun 25
Baker City, OR Apr 20 – Jun 15

Full planting calendar for Bend and Redmond · Lettuce in every city