When to plant Lettuce in Rappahannock County, Virginia, United States

Lettuce can be planted after April 30, when air temperature is consistently in a range between 32°F and 75°F and soil temperature is above 45°F. For the best results, Lettuce should be planted after June 07, when air temperature is consistently in a range between 50°F and 70°F and soil temperature is above 50°F.

Growing Lettuce in Rappahannock County

Lettuce needs on average between 30 and 70 days to mature and produce harvest.

Rappahannock County has 2 distinct seasons suitable for growing Lettuce

• April 30 to July 05

  This Lettuce growing season in Rappahannock County is quite short, with only 67 days suitable for growth so it is really important to time your planting activities, and choose varieties with shorter time to harvest requirements.

• July 30 to October 17

  Lettuce needs on average between 30 and 70 days to mature and produce harvest. With 80 suitable for growht, you can expect good harvest without too much effort if all planting activities are done in timely manner.

Planting Lettuce in Rappahannock County before April 30 without any additional protection is not advised because cold streaks can damage or kill off young plant.

Growing season extention

In order to maximize chances for a good harvest of Lettuce in Rappahannock County, some extra steps can be taken to extend growing season.

Start seeds indoors

When starting seeds indoors, it is possible to guarantee best possible conditions for young seedlings. Consistent temperature range, adequate watering and ample light (natural, supplemented with artifitial grow lights) will ensure you have strong and healthy seedlings just in time for transplanting into soil.

It takes 20 days on average for Lettuce to sprout, and grow big enough to be ready for transplanting.

Rappahannock County has 2 distinct seasons for growing Lettuce

• In order to get plants ready for April 30 seeds should be started indoors bwetween April 10 and April 26

  Seeds started after April 26 are not likely to mature and produce harvest.

  This Lettuce growing season in Rappahannock County is quite short, with only 67 days suitable for growth so it is really important to time your planting activities, and choose varieties with shorter time to harvest requirements.

• In order to get plants ready for July 30 seeds should be started indoors bwetween July 10 and August 08

  Seeds started after August 08 are not likely to mature and produce harvest.

  Lettuce needs on average between 30 and 70 days to mature and produce harvest. With 80 suitable for growth, you can expect good harvest without too much effort if all planting activities are done in timely manner.

Use a cold frame

When using a cold frame in a beggining of growing season You can protect young plants from possible temperature drops, this way growing season can start up to 2 weeks earlier.

Use an additional shading

On days, when air temperatures are expected to raise above 75°F, which is in top of tolerable range for Lettuce, consider using additional shading to prevent heat shock.

Table with days suitable to grow vegetables in Rappahannock County, Virginia