Across the U.S., lettuce ripen from California (mid-January) all the way to Florida (early December). Hatched chalk is the early and late shoulder; the solid stretch is peak.
Heads look dense for their size with perky, unblemished outer leaves and no browning at the cut end.
Feel
Leaves should feel crisp, not limp — butterheads give slightly while crispheads feel tight and heavy.
Smell
Fresh lettuce smells clean and mildly green; any sour or sulfurous whiff means it is breaking down.
Tip
Shop early in the morning — lettuce cut before the heat of the day stays crisp far longer.
Keeps
Refrigerate unwashed in a bag with a paper towel; most heads keep a week or more.
U-pick lettuce?
Rarely a u-pick crop — buy heads from market growers who cut them that morning.
Frequently asked questions
When are lettuce in season?
It depends where you stand. Across the U.S., lettuce ripen from California (mid-January) all the way to Florida (early December). In most growing states the peak lands around May — your own state's row on the board above is the honest answer.
Which state has the longest lettuce season?
California, where the season runs early January to late December. Long seasons usually mean a big state with more than one growing region inside it.
When are lettuce in season near me?
Pick your state on the what's-in-season board (it remembers you), or jump to your state's row above — each one links to the full lettuce-and-state page.