North Carolina · Garden vegetables

Lettuce season in North Carolina

Typically early April to late May, and again mid-September to mid-November, with peak mid-April through mid-May.

Hatched chalk = early and late shoulders; solid = peak.

Mountain growers cut right through summer.

At a glance

Early

From early April, and again mid-September — first pickings, lighter supply, best prices come later.

Peak

mid-April through mid-May; again early October through late October — full stalls, full flavor. This is the stretch to plan around.

Late

Through mid-November — quantity for preserving, and the stalls start dealing.

Season length

about 17 weeks end to end, shoulders included.

Chasing the season?

Lettuce peak moves across the map. After this window, it lands next in:

The whole national sweep · everything in season in North Carolina

Frequently asked questions

When is lettuce season in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, the lettuce season typically runs early April to late May, and again mid-September to mid-November, with peak availability mid-April through mid-May. Exact weeks shift a little with each year's weather.

Can I pick my own lettuce in North Carolina?

Rarely a u-pick crop — buy heads from market growers who cut them that morning. The best market weeks are mid-April through mid-May.

How long does lettuce season last in North Carolina?

about 17 weeks end to end — early April to late May, and again mid-September to mid-November. The early and late shoulders are real but lighter; the solid stretch of chalk on the band is the sure bet.