When to Plant Head Lettuce in Corning, California (96021)

Location

Corning, California

ZIP Code

96021

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Direct Sow Outdoors

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Based on last frost Tuesday, February 10, 2026 · Zone 9b

Pro tip: Sow Head Lettuce directly outdoors 4 weeks before your last frost date.

Add to Calendar (.ics)

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Lactuca sativa

Days to Maturity 70 days

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun

💧

Water

Regular

Seeds typically germinate in 1-7 days

Ready to Plant Head Lettuce in Corning?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

🛒 Buy on Amazon 🌿 True Leaf Market

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Common Head Lettuce Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Buttercrunch

butterhead 65d

Award-winning butterhead with tender, creamy inner leaves and exceptional flavor.

Iceberg

crisphead 75d

Classic crunchy head lettuce with pale, mild leaves; very heat-sensitive, best in cool weather.

Romaine (Paris Island Cos)

romaine 70d

Upright romaine with crisp ribs and dark green outer leaves; the Caesar salad standard.

Little Gem

mini-romaine 60d

Miniature romaine-butterhead cross; perfect for small gardens with dense, sweet heads.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟢 Easy

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Let heads bolt — cut an X in the head to encourage the seed stalk to push through.

Processing

Harvest seed heads as they brown, dry 1 week, thresh gently to release seeds.

Seed Viability

Up to 3 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Lettuce is self-pollinating but can occasionally cross — bag individual plants for perfectly pure seed.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Head Lettuce in Corning, California? +

In Corning (Zone 9b), direct sow Head Lettuce outdoors around Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Corning, California? +

The average last spring frost date for Corning, California (ZIP 96021) is around Tuesday, February 10, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 9b.

How long does Head Lettuce take to grow? +

Head Lettuce typically matures in about 70 days from direct sowing. In Corning, that means you can expect harvest around Tuesday, January 13, 2026 plus 70 days.

Should I start Head Lettuce indoors or direct sow in California? +

Head Lettuce does best when direct sown outdoors. In Corning, sow directly around Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

📚 More Head Lettuce Planting Guides

🗺️

Head Lettuce in California

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 9b Head Lettuce Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Corning

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Head Lettuce in Zone 9b

Head Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a popular garden vegetable. In Corning, California, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b, you should direct sow seeds around Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Head Lettuce grows well when direct sown, as it doesn't transplant well or germinates quickly outdoors.