Rouxai Lettuce brings striking red color to cool-season gardens across zones 3 through 9, maturing in just 47 days from transplants. This open-pollinated variety thrives in the crisp temperatures lettuce loves (60, 65°F is ideal), making it a reliable choice for spring and fall harvests. Its compact growth habit and tight 6-inch spacing mean you can pack multiple heads into small beds or containers, while its frost tolerance extends your growing season on both ends.
—
—
3-9
?in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The vivid red foliage of Rouxai stops you in the garden and on the plate. It germinates best below 70°F, so it naturally thrives in the cool windows when many other crops falter. At 47 days to maturity, you'll move from transplant to harvestable head faster than you might expect, and its compact form rewards tight spacing without sacrificing leaf quality or vigor.
Rouxai shines as a fresh salad green, where its striking red color adds both visual pop and a tender texture to mixed leaf arrangements. The loose, ruffled leaves capture dressings beautifully and work equally well in composed salads or tossed preparations.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your transplant date, keeping germination temperatures between 60, 70°F for best results. Lettuce germinates best when cool, so avoid starting too early under heat. Thin seedlings to prevent crowding, which weakens transplants. If using pelleted seed, remember that the pelleting process shortens shelf life; use seed within one year of purchase and store in a cool, dark, dry place or an airtight container in the refrigerator to protect against humidity fluctuations.
Transplant seedlings outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring, or 4 to 6 weeks before the first fall frost. Harden off by gradually exposing seedlings to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space transplants 6 inches apart with 12 inches between rows. Because Rouxai is frost tolerant, early spring planting with cool soil temperatures actually suits this variety; it establishes steadily without bolting stress.
Direct sow seeds into garden soil at the same time you would transplant seedlings. Sow every 2 to 3 weeks for continuous harvest throughout the cool season. Keep soil consistently moist until germination, which typically occurs within 7 to 10 days at proper temperatures.
Rouxai reaches harvestable size in 47 days from transplant. Harvest when heads feel full and crisp to the touch but before they begin to bolt or turn tough. In cool weather, you can extend the harvest window by holding cut heads in a cooler up to two weeks. Cut the entire head at soil level with a sharp knife, or pick outer leaves individually for a longer harvest from a single plant.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.