The effect of mean air temperature on the development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) variety White Boston was determined in a heat-unit system. The results showed that the base temperature is function of the stage of development of the crop. The base temperature for the phase: emergence-transplant was 6°C and for the phase transplant-harvest was 10°C. It was observed that there is not a linear relationship between crop development and mean air temperature because the growth rate had a maximum at 22°C and it decreased after this value.