When to plant lettuce in Olympia, WA

Plant lettuce in the garden in Olympia Mar 18 – May 13, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Feb 4–18. For a fall harvest, plant again Aug 19 – Sep 2.

Easy Plant seeds or young plants

Why these dates

Olympia's typical last spring frost is April 29. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 6 weeks before that.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

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 Feb 4–18 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 Mar 18 – May 13, 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 Aug 19 – Sep 2 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 Olympia, WA?

Typically April 29. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Olympia Airport.

Is it too late to plant lettuce in Olympia?

The spring planting window runs through May 13. If you miss it, plant again for fall from August 19 to September 2.

When should I start lettuce from seed indoors in Olympia?

February 4 to February 18, which is 6 to 4 weeks before the March 18 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

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Also plant in Olympia around the same time

Planting dates for lettuce in nearby areas

Portland, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26
Gresham, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26
Wilsonville and Canby, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26
Salem, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26
Eugene, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26
Roseburg, OR Mar 1 – Apr 26

Full planting calendar for Olympia · Lettuce in every city