Delaware planting calendar

When to plant lettuce in Delaware — sow, transplant & harvest dates

Delaware is mostly USDA zone 7b (range 7a-8a). Dates below are derived from lettuce's frost tolerance and Delaware's frost window — not generic national averages.

Lettuce planting timetable for Delaware

Stage	When in Delaware	Anchor
Start seeds indoors	mid-March (March 18)	4 weeks before the last frost (mid-April)
Transplant outside	late March (March 25)	21 days before the last frost (mid-April)
First harvest (estimate)	mid-May (May 14)	~50 days from transplant

Dates are state-wide averages for the dominant zone. Local microclimates — elevation, urban heat, coastal moderation — can shift the window by 1-2 weeks. Use the frost-date calculator for a date tuned to your town.

Why Delaware's climate shifts the lettuce dates

Delaware's last spring frost averages mid-April and first fall frost late October, which sets the whole planting clock. Delaware is small and mild, moderated by the Atlantic and Delaware Bay, with a long, productive mid-Atlantic season. Sow early — lettuce bolt once daytime temperatures hold above 24 °C, so the earlier they go in, the longer the harvest.

Lettuce is genuinely cold-hardy — direct-sow as soon as soil can be worked, 2-4 weeks before the last spring frost. It bolts and turns bitter in summer heat above 24 °C, so southern zones grow it as a winter and shoulder-season crop instead of in midsummer.

Frost-risk note

Don't plant before mid-April — a hard freeze can still set young plants back. In the northern Piedmont near Wilmington (zone 7a) the safe date runs a week or two later.

Regional variation within Delaware

the northern Piedmont near Wilmington (zone 7a) runs roughly 1-2 weeks behind the state average; the Atlantic coast and lower Delmarva (zone 8a) can plant 1-2 weeks earlier.

Wilmington — USDA zone 7b
Dover — USDA zone 7b
Newark — USDA zone 7b
Rehoboth Beach — USDA zone 8a

What else to plant in Delaware around then

The same early window suits peas, lettuce, spinach, and onion sets.

Quick-grow guide

Sun: Full sun in cool weather, light shade in heat.
Soil temperature for germination: 10-21 °C (50-70 °F).
Spacing: 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) between plants.
Days to harvest: ~50 days from planting out.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to plant lettuce in Delaware?

In Delaware (mostly USDA zone 7b), sow lettuce indoors around mid-March, transplant outdoors late March (before the last frost, mid-April), and harvest from mid-May. Lettuce are cold-hardy — they tolerate frost and actively prefer cool weather, so they go in well before the last spring frost and bolt in summer heat.

What USDA zone is Delaware?

Most of Delaware sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b, with the state spanning roughly 7a-8a from the northern Piedmont near Wilmington (zone 7a) to the Atlantic coast and lower Delmarva (zone 8a). The last spring frost averages mid-April and the first fall frost late October.

Can you grow lettuce in Delaware?

Yes. Delaware's dominant zone 7b supports lettuce — the key is timing. Lettuce are cold-hardy — they tolerate frost and actively prefer cool weather, so they go in well before the last spring frost and bolt in summer heat.

Does the planting date change across Delaware?

the northern Piedmont near Wilmington (zone 7a) runs roughly 1-2 weeks behind the state average; the Atlantic coast and lower Delmarva (zone 8a) can plant 1-2 weeks earlier.

What else can I plant in Delaware around the same time?

The same early window suits peas, lettuce, spinach, and onion sets.

Source and methodology

State zone spans from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023); frost-date averages from NOAA Climate Data Online. Hot-state two-season timing cross-checked against the UF/IFAS Florida Gardening Calendar and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension planting calendar. Curated by the Growli editorial team.