Florida · Garden vegetables

Lettuce season in Florida

Typically early November to mid-April, with peak early December through mid-March.

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

Everglades muck farms around Belle Glade cut all winter.

At a glance

Early

From early November — first pickings, lighter supply, best prices come later.

Peak

early December through mid-March — full stalls, full flavor. This is the stretch to plan around.

Late

Through mid-April — quantity for preserving, and the stalls start dealing.

Season length

about 24 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 Florida

Frequently asked questions

When is lettuce season in Florida?

In Florida, the lettuce season typically runs early November to mid-April, with peak availability early December through mid-March. Exact weeks shift a little with each year's weather.

Can I pick my own lettuce in Florida?

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

How long does lettuce season last in Florida?

about 24 weeks end to end — early November to mid-April. The early and late shoulders are real but lighter; the solid stretch of chalk on the band is the sure bet.