Lettuce Cimarron Red Romaine

Lettuce Cimarron Red Romaine is a vibrant and flavorful variety of lettuce known for its crisp texture and beautiful red-tinged leaves. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, growing this type of lettuce in your garden or containers can add both visual appeal and nutritional value to your meals.

Preparing for Growing:

• Selecting a planting location: Choose a location with full sun to partial shade, ensuring that the lettuce receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
• Soil preparation: Prepare well-draining, fertile soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. Incorporate organic matter such as compost or aged manure to improve soil structure and fertility.
• Purchasing or preparing containers/pots: If growing in containers, choose pots with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging and use quality potting mix.

Starting from Seeds Indoors:

• Seed preparation: No special seed preparation is required. Use fresh Lettuce Cimarron Red Romaine seeds for optimal germination.
• Choosing suitable pots/containers: Use seedling trays or small pots filled with seed starting mix.
• Sowing and caring for seeds indoors: Sow lettuce seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide adequate light, such as a sunny windowsill or grow lights.
• Transplanting to larger containers if necessary: Once seedlings have developed true leaves, transplant them into larger containers or outdoors if the weather permits.

Starting from Seeds Outdoors:

• Soil preparation: Prepare the garden bed by loosening the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches and removing debris. Amend with compost to improve soil fertility.
• Selecting appropriate timing and method for outdoor sowing: Sow lettuce seeds directly outdoors in early spring or late summer. Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart.
• Caring for seeds outdoors: Keep the soil consistently moist until seeds germinate, which usually takes 7-14 days.

Growing in Containers/Pots:

• Selecting suitable plants for containers: Lettuce Cimarron Red Romaine is well-suited for container growing.
• Container and soil preparation: Choose containers with drainage holes and fill them with quality potting mix.
• Sowing or transplanting plants into containers: Sow seeds or transplant seedlings into containers, spacing them according to the recommendations on the seed packet.
• Caring for container plants: Place containers in a location with full sun to partial shade, and water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist.

Transplanting to Garden:

• Soil and planting site preparation: Prepare the planting site by amending the soil with compost and ensuring good drainage.
• Correct timing and method for transplanting: Transplant seedlings outdoors once they have developed several true leaves, spacing them 12-18 inches apart.
• Post-transplant care: Water transplanted seedlings thoroughly and provide shade if necessary to prevent wilting.

Plant Care:

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, watering at the base of the plants to prevent fungal diseases.
• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer according to package instructions once seedlings have established themselves.
• Weeding: Keep the garden bed or containers free from weeds to reduce competition for nutrients and moisture.
• Pest and disease management: Monitor plants regularly for signs of pests or diseases. Handpick pests like aphids and caterpillars, and treat fungal diseases with appropriate fungicides if necessary.

Harvesting:

• Determining when plants are ready for harvest: Harvest lettuce Cimarron Red Romaine when the leaves reach the desired size, typically 55-65 days after planting. Outer leaves can be harvested individually, or the entire plant can be cut back to 2 inches above the soil for a cut-and-come-again harvest.
• Harvesting and storage guidelines: Harvest lettuce in the morning when leaves are crisp. Store harvested leaves in the refrigerator wrapped in damp paper towels for up to one week.

When to Start from Seeds by USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:

• Lettuce Cimarron Red Romaine seeds can be started indoors or sown directly outdoors based on your USDA plant hardiness zone. In colder climates (zones 1-6), start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. In warmer climates (zones 7-11), sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring or late summer for a fall crop.

Fast Facts:

• Planting depth: Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in the soil.
• Seed spacing: Plant seeds 1 inch apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart.
• Plant spacing: Space transplanted seedlings 12-18 inches apart.
• Number of seeds per pot/container: Plant 2-3 seeds per pot or container and thin to the strongest seedling.
• Water preferences: Keep soil consistently moist, watering at the base of the plants.
• Sun preferences: Full sun to partial shade; ensure at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
• Soil type and other important factors: Well-draining, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
• Companion Planting: Lettuce grows well with herbs like basil, dill, and cilantro, as well as other leafy greens like spinach and arugula.
• Temperature Preference: Lettuce prefers cooler temperatures between 45°F and 75°F.
• Days to Germination: Lettuce seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days under optimal conditions.
• Days to Harvest: Harvest lettuce Cimarron Red Romaine leaves in 55-65 days from planting, or when leaves reach desired size.