VegetableLettuce
New Red Fire Lettuce
Looseleaf Lettuce
New Red Fire Lettuce transforms any garden bed into a tapestry of color with its dramatic loose leaves that graduate from green at the base to deep red at the ruffled edges. This heat-tolerant variety thrives across zones 2-10, maturing in just 55 days from transplant while resisting the urge to bolt that plagues most lettuces in warm weather. The large, loose-leaf heads create stunning visual impact while delivering crisp, fresh flavor throughout an extended harvest season.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Preferred Temp55-75°F
Growth Stats
10 in
Height
—
Width
1 in
Spacing
55–55
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
10in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
New Red Fire stands apart from ordinary lettuce with its remarkable heat tolerance and bolt resistance, allowing harvests well into summer when other varieties have turned bitter. The striking color gradient creates a dramatic focal point in both garden beds and salad bowls, while the loose-leaf structure means you can harvest individual outer leaves continuously without sacrificing the plant. Its adaptability to both cool spring conditions and challenging summer heat makes it an invaluable variety for gardeners seeking reliable, beautiful greens across multiple seasons.
Common Uses
New Red Fire excels in traditional salads where its color creates striking contrast, and works beautifully in mixed-green compositions where visual appeal matters as much as taste. The tender leaves can be steamed as a side dish, offering a delicate alternative to heartier cooking greens. Baby greens harvested at 35 days provide perfect components for mesclun mixes, while mature leaves add both flavor and dramatic color to any recipe calling for lettuce.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Not Applicable
First Harvest
Approximately 45 Days After Planting
Last Harvest
Up To 70 Days After Planting
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your anticipated transplant date. Seeds need light to germinate, so plant shallow and maintain temperatures below 70°F for best germination rates.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant after last frost when soil can be worked and temperatures remain below 75°F. Space according to your harvest method, with closer spacing for cut-and-come-again harvesting.
Direct Sow
Direct sow from February through October, using row cover to improve germination and prevent soil crusting. Plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest.
Harvesting
Harvest New Red Fire by cutting individual outer leaves throughout the season, allowing inner leaves to continue growing, or cut the entire loose-leaf head at the base about 1 inch above soil level. For baby greens, harvest at 35 days by cutting at the base. Check daily once plants mature, as leaves will eventually turn bitter when the plant begins to bolt, though New Red Fire's bolt resistance extends this window significantly compared to other varieties.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Lactuca L.
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)