Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) in Zone 4a & 4b
Lactuca sativa var. asparagina
Yes, celtuce (stem lettuce) grows in zones 4a and 4b. Start seeds indoors Apr 17–Apr 24 and plant out Apr 24–May 1.
When to plant celtuce (stem lettuce) in zone 4b
Zones 4a and 4b 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 | Apr 17–Apr 24 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 24–May 1 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 13–Jul 20 (~80 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 4b
These go outside within two weeks of celtuce (stem lettuce) in zone 4b, so one planting day can cover them.
- OnionApr 24–May 1
- RadishApr 17–Apr 24
- CarrotApr 24–May 1
- CabbageMay 1–May 8
- LettuceMay 1–May 8
- BeetApr 24–May 1
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 4's season
Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. Celtuce (stem lettuce) needs about 80 days from sowing to first harvest.
Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) planting windows in every zone
Zone 4b 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 (your zone) | 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 | 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 4b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) in USDA zone 4b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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