Leaf and butterhead lettuces are great choices for gardens in Alabama. They mature in 40 to 50 days. Many have good heat tolerance and are a good choice for a spring or fall garden. In addition to the standard green leaf types, hundreds of cultivars with various leaf colors are available for you to try.
When should you plant lettuce in Alabama?
Alabama Vegetable Garden Planting Chart
| Vegetable | Days to Maturity | Planting Dates, Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Kohlrabi | 45 – 55 | Aug. 15 – Sept. |
| Lettuces | 45 – 85 | Aug. 15 – Sept. 1 |
| Muskmelons | 75 – 90 | |
| Mustard | 40 – 50 | Aug. 15 – Sept. 5 |
Can you grow lettuce in the South?
In the South, head lettuce is generally more difficult to grow than leaf lettuce. Lettuce does not tolerate hot weather. If this crop is exposed to high temperature or moisture stress, the lettuce will usually have a bitter flavor and will also bolt.
What vegetables can I plant now in Alabama?
Peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplants and parsley can now be planted all over the state. Seeds for corn, squash, cucumbers and the various beans and melons can now be planted.
What plants crops grow best in Alabama?
*This is an excerpt from The Alabama Vegetable Gardener, ANR-0479.
- Asparagus. Asparagus is one of the most valuable of the early garden vegetables and is adaptable to freezer storage.
- Beans. Both bush and pole are commonly grown in Alabama.
- Broccoli.
- Cabbage.
- Cantaloupes.
- Carrots.
- Cauliflower.
- Collards.
What planting zone is Alabama?
When selecting plants, be aware of your area’s hardiness zone so you know what temperatures your garden will need to tolerate as well as what time of year is best for planting. Alabama is located in Zones 7b to 8b in the Southeast region of the map.
How do you grow romaine lettuce in Alabama?
Plant in a well-drained soil that is capable of holding moisture. You may need to add organic matter to the soil. If you mulch too heavily, you may harbor snails that will feed on the lettuce, so mulch sparingly. Most lettuces are established by direct seeding or transplanting.
What temperature is too hot for lettuce?
Lettuce is a cool-season vegetable, meaning it grows best in temperatures around 60 – 65°F. Once temperatures rise above 80°F, lettuce will normally start to “bolt” or stop leaf production and send up a stalk to flower and produce seed. The leaves become bitter at this stage.
What temp is too cold for lettuce?
Lettuce may cope with light freezing and even one or two hard freezes, but once the thermometer reads 25°F or below, the plants are in danger. That level of cold causes ice to form in the plant tissue, regardless of the amount of moisture in the air.
How do you protect lettuce from heat?
Keep Lettuce Plants Well-Watered
Water evaporating from the soil provides natural cooling. Water your lettuce plants every day—and even more often if it is extremely hot and dry. The lettuce leaves are comprised mostly of water and will desiccate and wilt in strong sunlight and dry soil.
What can you plant in March in Alabama?
Vegetable Seeds
Central and South: Continue planting carrots, lettuce, and radishes. Plant sweet corn and squash. South Alabama can start planting beans, melons, and southern peas in late March.
What can I plant in February in Alabama?
Wait until the end of February to plant beets, carrots, collards, garden peas, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, spinach, Swiss chard, radishes, and turnips.
What can I plant in January in Alabama?
South: Plant broccoli, celery, collards, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce transplants, and onion sets. South and Central: Plant asparagus in late January. Central: Plant cabbage and cauliflower transplants. Wait until the end of January to plant Swiss chard, mustard, transplants, and onion sets.
Can you grow avocados in Alabama?
Alabama ranges from USDA plant hardiness zones 7 to 8, which can be a little too cold for most kinds of avocados. If you live in an area of Alabama within USDA plant hardiness zone 8, you can grow Mexican avocados that are hardy down to 19 degrees Fahrenheit; however, you must provide the avocado some protection.
What is the number one crop grown in Alabama?
Though Alabama only produces about 4% of the nation’s total crop today, cotton is still an important field crop in the state. Other valuable crops are peanuts, corn for grain and soybeans.
Can you grow spinach in Alabama?
Specifically, you are going to need to watch when the last frost occurs. In general, when there hasn’t been a frost for two weeks, you are SAFE to plant your spinach outside in Alabama!
What cold zone is Alabama in?
Related Alabama Maps:
| Alabama Location | USDA Hardiness Zone(s) |
|---|---|
| Anniston | Zone 7b, 8a |
| Arab | Zone 7b |
| Ardmore | Zone 7a, 7b |
| Argo | Zone 7b |
What zone is Birmingham AL in?
Birmingham, Alabama is in USDA Hardiness Zones 7b and 8a.
Can lettuce tolerate a freeze?
Lettuce is considered “hard frost hardy,” which means it can withstand frosts below 28 degrees. If the frost continues unabated, however, the cell walls may form ice, and the plant actually freezes. Freezing is irreversible and will kill a lettuce plant.
What month do you plant lettuce?
Lettuce is a cool weather crop and is best grown in spring and fall. The seeds germinate in temperatures as low as 40 F (4 C) but its ideal germination and growing temperature is between 60 and 65 F (16 to 18 C).
How long does lettuce take to grow?
How Long Does It Take Lettuce to Grow? Lettuce grows fairly quickly. Leaf varieties reach maturity in 30 days but can be harvested as soon as they reach the desired size. Other types of lettuce require 6 to 8 weeks to reach full harvest size.