Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) in Zone 11a & 11b
Lactuca sativa var. asparagina
When to plant celtuce (stem lettuce) in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) tolerates either.
| Start indoors | Dec 4–Dec 11 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Dec 11–Dec 18 |
| Estimated harvest | Mar 1 '27–Mar 8 '27 (~80 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
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 in this dataset, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Celtuce (Stem Lettuce).
Where to buy celtuce seeds
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 · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · 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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