Lettuce is fairly easy to sell in the early spring when people are itching for greens, but it can also be a surprisingly easy crop to grow over winter for early spring with a couple of big “ifs”—if you plant it early enough (December or January for March and April); and if you have a way to keep it well protected from frost and snow.
So late January is a good time as long as you have a covered place to grow it because, like lettuce, sturdy hoops and some plastic or heavy row-cover might be sufficient in places with moderate to low snow fall.
Every year when we plant garlic we also plant a section very tightly for what is called green garlic—essentially under-mature garlic that looks very much like a leek but tastes like delicious garlic.
I highly recommend planting a single round early (January or February when even radishes will take two months unless supplemental heat is provided) and under cover, then planting in small successions every week to guarantee a consistent harvest.
