Rouge D'hiver Lettuce seeds
A classic French heirloom from the 1800s! This colorful lettuce is easy to grow, loves the cool weather, and is low maintenance. It is a proud member of the Romain family so you can expect long slender round crunchy leaves with round tips. The round tips are a rich burgundy color, giving this variety an incredibly attractive advantage if one was looking to grow lettuce for aesthetics.
The flavor is a classic lettuce flavor but richer with a butteriness that rounds out its flavor profile. Rouge D'Hiver is French for "Winter Red" roughly translated. This is not only due to the attractive burgundy tips on the leaves, but the fact it loves the cooler weather. Since this is a cool crop, you can grow this in early spring and again in the fall. You can start this indoors although it grows fast enough it may not be worth the hassle or grow light real estate since it grows quickly.
Most if not all lettuces do extremely well in containers. We grew lettuce around our tomato plants in containers as it kept in the moisture for the soil, in turn keeping the tomato plants happy, and from splitting. It truly makes a great dressing for container plants. This is a delicious variety, one of our favorites. It is best used to make attractive salads and adds a colorful pop to wraps and sandwiches.
Seed count: Approx. 250
Botanic name:
Lactuca sativa var.
Plant spacing:
4-6 inches
Color:
Green leaves with burgundy accents
Sowing depth:
1/4 inch deep
Sun requirements:
Full sun / part shade
Utilization:
Rouge D'hiver lettuce makes a great addition to salads, sandwhiches, burgers, and smoothies.
Frost hardy:
Yes
Maturity days:
50-60 days
Life cycle:
Biennial
Can I start indoors:
Yes
Container friendly:
Yes
Other names:
Red Leaf Lettuce, Purple Leaf Lettuce, Red of Winter, Winter Red, and Cimmaron
Growing Instructions:
**Growing Lettuce from Seed**
1. **Timing:** Lettuce is a cool-season crop. Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost or directly sow them in the garden once the soil temperature reaches at least 40°F.
2. **Containers and Soil:** Use seed starting trays or small pots filled with a seed starting mix. Moisten the mix before planting.
3. **Planting:** Sow seeds thinly on the surface of the soil, covering them lightly with 1/8 inch of soil. Mist the soil gently to avoid dislodging the seeds.
4. **Light and Temperature:** Place the containers in a warm, sunny location with temperatures between 60-70°F. If needed, use a grow light to provide adequate light.
5. **Watering:** Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Misting the soil surface regularly is a good way to maintain moisture without disturbing the seeds.
6. **Germination:** Lettuce seeds typically germinate within 7-10 days.
7. **Thinning:** Once seedlings have a few true leaves, thin them to the strongest plant in each cell or pot.
**Transplanting Lettuce**
1. **Hardening Off:** Before transplanting, gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions by placing them outside for a few hours each day, gradually increasing the duration over a week.
2. **Spacing:** Transplant seedlings into the garden when they have 4-6 true leaves. Space them according to the variety:
* Leaf lettuce: 6-8 inches apart
* Head lettuce: 10-12 inches apart
3. **Planting Depth:** Plant seedlings at the same depth they were growing in their containers.
4. **Watering:** Water deeply after transplanting to help the seedlings establish.
**Caring for Transplanted Lettuce**
1. **Watering:** Lettuce needs consistent moisture, especially during hot weather. Water deeply and regularly, aiming to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water in the morning to allow excess moisture to evaporate during the day.
2. **Fertilizing:** Lettuce is a light feeder. Fertilize once or twice during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength.
3. **Weed Control:** Keep the area around your lettuce plants weed-free to reduce competition for nutrients and water.
4. **Pest and Disease Control:** Monitor plants for signs of pests or diseases. Aphids and slugs are common lettuce pests. Neem oil or insecticidal soap can help control aphids. Handpicking slugs or using diatomaceous earth can be effective for slug control.
5. **Harvesting:** Harvest leaf lettuce by snipping outer leaves as needed, allowing the inner leaves to continue growing. Harvest head lettuce when the heads are firm and full-sized but before they bolt (flower).
**Additional Tips**
* Consider succession planting lettuce every 2-3 weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the season.
* Lettuce prefers cool weather. If temperatures rise above 75°F, consider providing shade for your plants to prevent bolting.
* Lettuce grows well in containers. If you have limited garden space, try growing lettuce in pots or raised beds.
