When to Plant Leaf Lettuce in Honolulu, Hawaii (96821)

Location

Honolulu, Hawaii

ZIP Code

96821

USDA Zone

12b

Last Frost

Thursday, January 1, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Direct Sow Outdoors

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Based on last frost Thursday, January 1, 2026 · Zone 12b

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

Add to Calendar (.ics)

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Lactuca sativa

Days to Maturity 45 days

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun

💧

Water

Regular

Seeds typically germinate in 1-7 days

Ready to Plant Leaf Lettuce in Honolulu?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Thursday, December 4, 2025.

🛒 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 Leaf Lettuce Varieties

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

Black Seeded Simpson

loose-leaf 45d

Fast-growing heirloom loose-leaf lettuce; one of the most heat-tolerant green lettuces.

Red Sails

loose-leaf 45d

Frilly, burgundy-tinged loose leaf with mild flavor and good heat tolerance.

Oak Leaf

loose-leaf 50d

Deeply lobed, oak-shaped leaves with sweet, mild flavor; very slow to bolt.

Salad Bowl

loose-leaf 45d

All-America Selections winner; frilly bowl-shaped plant with excellent heat tolerance.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟢 Easy

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Let plants bolt fully. Harvest seed heads daily as they ripen — they shatter quickly.

Processing

Shake ripe seed heads into a bag each day, dry seeds 1 week before storing.

Seed Viability

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

Pro Tip

Bag flowers of different varieties to prevent crossing, or isolate by 25 feet.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Leaf Lettuce in Honolulu, Hawaii? +

In Honolulu (Zone 12b), direct sow Leaf Lettuce outdoors around Thursday, December 4, 2025.

What is the last frost date for Honolulu, Hawaii? +

The average last spring frost date for Honolulu, Hawaii (ZIP 96821) is around Thursday, January 1, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 12b.

How long does Leaf Lettuce take to grow? +

Leaf Lettuce typically matures in about 45 days from direct sowing. In Honolulu, that means you can expect harvest around Thursday, December 4, 2025 plus 45 days.

Should I start Leaf Lettuce indoors or direct sow in Hawaii? +

Leaf Lettuce does best when direct sown outdoors. In Honolulu, sow directly around Thursday, December 4, 2025.

📚 More Leaf Lettuce Planting Guides

🗺️

Leaf Lettuce in Hawaii

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 12b Leaf Lettuce Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Honolulu

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 Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi 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 Leaf Lettuce in Zone 12b

Leaf Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a popular garden vegetable. In Honolulu, Hawaii, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 12b, you should direct sow seeds around Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Your average last frost date is Thursday, January 1, 2026. Leaf Lettuce grows well when direct sown, as it doesn't transplant well or germinates quickly outdoors.