Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) in Zone 5a & 5b
Lactuca sativa var. asparagina
Yes, celtuce (stem lettuce) grows in zones 5a and 5b. Start seeds indoors Apr 12–Apr 19 and plant out Apr 19–Apr 26.
When to plant celtuce (stem lettuce) in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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 12–Apr 19 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 19–Apr 26 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 8–Jul 15 (~80 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of celtuce (stem lettuce) in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- OnionApr 19–Apr 26
- RadishApr 12–Apr 19
- CarrotApr 19–Apr 26
- CabbageApr 26–May 3
- LettuceApr 26–May 3
- BeetApr 19–Apr 26
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 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Celtuce (stem lettuce) needs about 80 days from sowing to first harvest.
Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b 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 (your zone) | 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 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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