Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) in Zone 11a & 11b
Lactuca sativa var. asparagina
Yes, celtuce (stem lettuce) grows in zones 11a and 11b. Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 11 and plant out Dec 11–Dec 18.
When to plant celtuce (stem lettuce) in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Dec 4–Dec 11 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Dec 11–Dec 18 |
| Estimated harvest | Mar 1–Mar 8 (~80 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of celtuce (stem lettuce) in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab)Dec 11–Dec 18
- MizunaDec 11–Dec 18
- TatsoiDec 11–Dec 18
- Flower SproutsDec 18–Dec 25
- Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)Dec 18–Dec 25
- KalettesDec 18–Dec 25
Celtuce, also called stem lettuce, is a lettuce relative grown for a thick, crisp central stem instead of its leaves, a texture somewhere between celery and lettuce hearts once peeled.
How celtuce (stem lettuce) fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 22–Apr 29 | Apr 29–May 6 | Jul 18–Jul 25 |
| 3a & 3b | May 2–May 9 | May 9–May 16 | Jul 28–Aug 4 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 13–Jul 20 |
| 5a & 5b | Apr 12–Apr 19 | Apr 19–Apr 26 | Jul 8–Jul 15 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | Jun 23–Jun 30 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 13–Mar 20 | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Jun 8–Jun 15 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Mar 4–Mar 11 | May 23–May 30 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 18–Jan 25 | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Apr 15–Apr 22 |
| 10a & 10b | Jan 2–Jan 9 | Jan 9–Jan 16 | Mar 30–Apr 6 |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | Dec 4–Dec 11 | Dec 11–Dec 18 | Mar 1–Mar 8 |
Harvest dates are about 80 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for celtuce (stem lettuce).
Where to buy celtuce seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries celtuce seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing celtuce (stem lettuce)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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