New Jersey planting calendar

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

New Jersey is mostly USDA zone 7a (range 6a-7b). Dates below are derived from lettuce's frost tolerance and New Jersey's frost window — not generic national averages.

Lettuce planting timetable for New Jersey

Stage	When in New Jersey	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 New Jersey's climate shifts the lettuce dates

New Jersey's last spring frost averages mid-April and first fall frost late October, which sets the whole planting clock. New Jersey has a mild mid-Atlantic climate with a long season, moderated by the ocean and Delaware Bay along the coast. 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 northwest Highlands near High Point (zone 6a) the safe date runs a week or two later.

Regional variation within New Jersey

the northwest Highlands near High Point (zone 6a) runs roughly 1-2 weeks behind the state average; the Atlantic shore and inner harbor (zone 7b) can plant 1-2 weeks earlier.

Newark — USDA zone 7b
Jersey City — USDA zone 7b
Trenton — USDA zone 7a
Atlantic City — USDA zone 7b

What else to plant in New Jersey 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 New Jersey?

In New Jersey (mostly USDA zone 7a), 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 New Jersey?

Most of New Jersey sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a, with the state spanning roughly 6a-7b from the northwest Highlands near High Point (zone 6a) to the Atlantic shore and inner harbor (zone 7b). The last spring frost averages mid-April and the first fall frost late October.

Can you grow lettuce in New Jersey?

Yes. New Jersey's dominant zone 7a 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 New Jersey?

the northwest Highlands near High Point (zone 6a) runs roughly 1-2 weeks behind the state average; the Atlantic shore and inner harbor (zone 7b) can plant 1-2 weeks earlier.

What else can I plant in New Jersey 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.