Product Details

An all-season medium to large red leaf that performs well through the summer. New Red Fire produces uniform, heavy heads of ruffled, dark pink leaves with just a peak of green at the base. Slow, steady growth in the heat without bolting. A great organic option if you'd like a classic, red leaf lettuce.

• All-season performer.
• Grows well in the summer.
• Large heads.
• Dark pink colour.
• Organic seed.

All About New Red Fire Certified Organic

Latin

Lactuca sativa

Family: Asteraceae

Difficulty

Easy.

Season & Zone

Season: Cool season

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Timing

Lettuce grows best in cool weather in the spring and fall, but it can be grown in the summer, and all winter long in milder regions. Sow short rows every 2-3 weeks following the last average frost date for a continual harvest. Using a cloche, cold frame, or greenhouse over mid-late summer plantings can extend the harvest period right into winter. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 10-22°C (50-72°F). Seeds should sprout in 7-15 days, depending on conditions. Lettuce seeds don’t sprout easily when the soil temperature is over 22°C (72°F) in summer. To overcome this, sprout seeds indoors in a cool area, or pre-sprout by sprinkling seeds on a damp paper towel and placing it in a plastic bag in the fridge for a few days.

Starting

Direct sow or start indoors and transplant. Sow seeds 5mm (¼”) deep, or on the surface of the soil where the soil can be kept evenly moist. Space or thin heading lettuce to 30cm (12″) apart. Space or thin looseleaf varieties to 20-25cm (8-10″) apart. Space rows for all types 45-90cm (18-36″) apart. Babyleaf lettuce can be planted quite densely, as it is harvested at an immature size. Sowing babyleaf lettuce seeds closely together in narrow rows makes harvesting simpler.

Note on Pelleted Seeds: Some lettuce seeds are pelleted for machine planting. The white clay coating makes them easier to handle and see when planted. While most lettuce seeds need to be barely covered (or sown on the surface), pelleted seeds should be buried by about 1cm (1/2″). Keep newly sown pelleted seeds evenly moist – use more water than with conventional seeds to avoid uneven germination.

Days to Maturity

From direct sowing. Most varieties will be ready for harvesting as baby leaves in half the days shown on the packet.

Growing

Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Aim for soil with ample drainage and lots of organic matter. Add compost and lime at least 3 weeks prior to planting. Apply one cup of balanced organic fertilizer per 3m (10′) of row. Seedlings should be hardened off by reducing water and putting the plants outdoors 2-3 days before transplanting. This prevents transplant shock and premature bolting. Regular watering is essential to prevent leaves from developing a bitter taste.

Harvest

Pick individual leaves or wait and harvest full heads. Mature summer lettuce stays in prime eating condition only a short time, so harvest promptly and keep planting. In fall and winter, plants stay in good harvest condition longer.

Seed Info

In optimal growing conditions at least 70% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years. Per 100′ row: 240 seeds (head lettuce) / 1.2M seeds (leaf type), per acre: 58M seeds (head lettuce) / 348M seeds (leaf type).

Diseases & Pests

Crop rotation is important for disease prevention. Tip burn (browning of leaf tips) is caused by calcium deficiency, nutrient imbalances, or lack of moisture. Slugs can be an issue in early and late plantings; clean up hiding places and only water in the morning.

Companion Planting

Lettuce plants are good companions for beets, Brassicas, carrots, celery, chervil, cucumbers, dill, garlic, onions, radish, spinach, squash, and strawberries.