Spring and Fall Lettuces in Texas

Spring and Autumn Lettuces in the Texas Garden

Lettuce in the Texas Garden.  You do not need me to tell you how good these are or how filled with vitamins an nutrients.  You just need to see them and fall in love!

Mixed lettuce in a Texas Garden

There is nothing more beautiful than spring and fall lettuce in a Texas garden.

Lettuce grows well in Texas raised bed gardens, but timing is everything. Because lettuce thrives in cooler temperatures, the best seasons for planting are early spring and fall. Texas summers, especially in Central and South Texas, tend to be too hot for most traditional lettuce varieties, but there are a few heat-tolerant options if you want to try extending your season.

In spring, you can plant seeds as early as late February to early March in North Texas, or even earlier in South Texas where the last frost date comes sooner. Great spring varieties include loose-leaf lettuces like ‘Black Seeded Simpson’ and ‘Red Sails’, both of which mature quickly and tolerate fluctuating spring weather better than heading types. Romaine types like ‘Parris Island Cos’ also do well if planted early enough to mature before the heat sets in.

Spring Lettuces and Chard in Raised Bed Gardening Texas Landscape Design

Spinach in Texas Gardening

As in all geographic regions you can chose to bunch your lettuces or clear seedlings vigorously and have independent free standing heads.

For fall planting, start seeds in late September or early October. Fall crops often produce the best-tasting lettuce in Texas because the cooling weather prevents bitterness. Butterhead types such as ‘Buttercrunch’ thrive in fall gardens, offering tender leaves and great flavor. Fall is also a good time to grow romaine varieties and oakleaf lettuces like ‘Salad Bowl’, which hold up well into light frosts.

1. When is the best time to grow lettuce in Texas?
The best seasons for growing lettuce in Texas are early spring and fall. Lettuce prefers cooler temperatures, so planting in late winter to early spring or early fall gives the best results. In North Texas, spring planting usually starts around late February or March, while fall planting begins in late September to early October.

2. Can you grow lettuce during Texas summers?
Growing lettuce during the Texas summer is very difficult because of the extreme heat. However, certain heat-tolerant varieties like ‘Jericho’ or ‘Muir’ can survive if planted with afternoon shade, heavy mulching, and frequent watering. Even then, summer lettuce may struggle or bolt quickly.

3. What types of lettuce grow best in Texas?
Loose-leaf types like ‘Black Seeded Simpson’ and ‘Red Sails’ are great for spring, while ‘Buttercrunch’ and ‘Salad Bowl’ are excellent choices for fall. Heat-resistant romaines like ‘Jericho’ are preferred if you are attempting to grow in warmer months.

4. Do you need special soil for lettuce in Texas raised beds?
Lettuce thrives best in light, rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost added. Raised beds are ideal because they allow better control over soil conditions and drainage, both critical in Texas’s variable weather. Lettuce roots are shallow, so consistent moisture is important.

5. How do you protect lettuce from bolting in warm Texas weather?
To prevent bolting, plant early in spring or late in fall, provide afternoon shade, and keep the soil evenly moist. Once daytime temperatures regularly exceed 80°F, lettuce naturally starts to bolt, so timing your planting carefully is the best way to extend your harvest.

Summer lettuce is tricky in Texas, but not impossible if you choose heat-tolerant varieties and provide afternoon shade. Some of the better summer performers include ‘Jericho’ (a heat-tolerant romaine) and ‘Summer Crisp’ lettuces like ‘Nevada’ or ‘Muir’. Even with these varieties, summer-grown lettuce in Texas will benefit from mulching heavily, watering consistently, and growing under shade cloth to protect from the scorching sun.

Raised beds are ideal because they drain well, warm up early in spring, and make it easier to manage soil quality and moisture. Light, rich soil with plenty of compost will give lettuce the best chance, and regular watering is crucial because lettuce has shallow roots and dries out quickly. In Texas, success with lettuce is about matching the right variety to the right season — and understanding when to step back and wait for cooler.

In the U.S., All-America Selections (AAS) is one of the most respected organizations that gives awards to outstanding vegetable varieties. A few lettuce varieties have won AAS awards over the years for their exceptional performance in different climates, including Texas.

Notable examples include:

• ‘Salad Bowl’ (Green Oakleaf Lettuce) — Winner of an All-America Selections award in 1952 for its tender leaves, excellent bolt resistance (slow to go bitter), and heat tolerance. It’s still recommended today for Texas gardens because it handles spring and fall weather well.

• ‘Red Salad Bowl’ — A red oakleaf version that is also highly recommended for its similar heat tolerance and colorful, tender leaves.

• ‘Buttercrunch’ (Butterhead Lettuce) — While not an AAS winner, it has been repeatedly recognized by university extension services (including Texas A&M AgriLife) and seed companies for being one of the most adaptable and reliable lettuces for home gardens in both cool and slightly warmer climates.

Some heat-tolerant varieties like ‘Jericho’ (a romaine bred for Israeli desert conditions) are extremely popular in Texas, but they are more praised by growers and experts rather than having formal awards attached.

So in short, a few classic varieties like ‘Salad Bowl’ and ‘Red Salad Bowl’ have been officially awarded, while others like ‘Buttercrunch’ and ‘Jericho’ are top recommended choices in trusted gardening circles — even without formal titles.