Alabama · Garden vegetables

Lettuce season in Alabama

Typically mid-March to mid-May, and again early October to late November, with peak early April through late April.

Hatched chalk = early and late shoulders; solid = peak.

Spring and fall crops; summer is too hot.

At a glance

Early

From mid-March, and again early October — first pickings, lighter supply, best prices come later.

Peak

early April through late April; again mid-October through mid-November — full stalls, full flavor. This is the stretch to plan around.

Late

Through late November — quantity for preserving, and the stalls start dealing.

Season length

about 17 weeks end to end, shoulders included.

Lettuce

Look: 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.

Chasing the season?

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The whole national sweep · everything in season in Alabama

Frequently asked questions

When is lettuce season in Alabama?

In Alabama, the lettuce season typically runs mid-March to mid-May, and again early October to late November, with peak availability early April through late April. Exact weeks shift a little with each year's weather.

Can I pick my own lettuce in Alabama?

Rarely a u-pick crop — buy heads from market growers who cut them that morning. The best market weeks are early April through late April.

How long does lettuce season last in Alabama?

about 17 weeks end to end — mid-March to mid-May, and again early October to late November. The early and late shoulders are real but lighter; the solid stretch of chalk on the band is the sure bet.