Best Lettuce & Salad Greens to Grow in Missouri

Start your first lettuce seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date (so early to mid-March for Zone 6), then transplant seedlings outside 2-3 weeks before the last frost. Lettuce can handle light frost, so don't baby it too much - those April transplants will actually develop better flavor with some cool nights. For direct seeding, wait until soil can be worked in early April, but know that germination will be slow in cold soil.

Succession planting is your secret weapon in Zone 6. Sow new seeds every 2-3 weeks through May, then take a break during peak summer heat (July-early August) unless you can provide consistent shade and water. Resume planting in late August for fall crops - these often outperform spring lettuce because they mature in cooling rather than warming weather. Your fall lettuce can often survive until Thanksgiving or beyond with simple protection like row covers or cold frames.

Summer growing requires strategy: choose bolt-resistant varieties, provide afternoon shade (30-50% shade cloth works well), and keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. Morning sun with afternoon protection creates ideal conditions when temperatures climb above 75°F consistently.