Customer Service Hours
Mon-Fri 8-4 MST
Features
Family
Asteraceae
Native
Unknown; lettuce has been in cultivation for a long time.
Life Cycle
Annual
Plant Height
Short (Under 12")
Further Information
Growing Conditions
- Cold Tolerant
- Frost Tolerant
About Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
Upright heads have bronze-red leaves and a green heart; develops best color in cool weather. 'Rouge d´Hiver' is a compact lettuce; a French heirloom from the 1800s.
Planting Lettuce
Plant Spacing
A group of 3 seeds every 10"
Light Required
Full sun to part shade
Plant Height
Short (Under 12")
Planting Depth
Surface to ⅛"
Coverage & Planting Details
| Coverage | This packet sows up to 152 feet. |
|---|---|
| Row Spacing | 10" |
| Seed Depth | Surface to ⅛" |
| Seed Spacing | A group of 3 seeds every 10" |
| Thinning | When ½" tall, thin to 1 every 10" |
| Germination | 5–10 days |
| Start Indoors | 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, and in summer when soil temperatures are too warm (above 80°F) to germinate lettuce seed. |
| Direct Sow | RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 40°F, ideally 60°–70°F. Successive Sowings: Every 3 weeks until 4 to 6 weeks before your average first fall frost date. Mild Climates: Sow in fall and winter for cool season harvests. |
| Growing & Harvesting | Harvest in the morning, by cutting off at ground level. If regrowth is desired, cut the leaves higher, at 2". For a continual supply, outer, individual leaves can be harvested at any stage of maturity, but leave at least half of the plant for regrowth. |
Find Your Frost Date & Grow Zone
Average First Frost Date
October 19
Average Last Frost Date
May 19
Your Hardiness Zone is
5b
Send Your Recommendation
Total 5 star reviews: 15 Total 4 star reviews: 4 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
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Rating
19 reviews
- Jill C.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars4/19/26Growing well
Growing well and tasty!
BIBotanical Interests4/19/26Hey Jill,
We're so happy to hear your Rouge d'Hiver Romaine Lettuce Seeds are growing well and already tasting great! There's nothing quite like fresh, homegrown lettuce - especially this beautiful French heirloom variety with those gorgeous red-tinged leaves. Rouge d'Hiver is such a fantastic cold-hardy romaine that gives you crisp, flavorful leaves perfect for salads and cooking. You're going to have such delicious harvests ahead! Keep on growing 🌻️
- Ray W.Verified BuyerRated 4 out of 5 stars12/28/25Colorful and tasty
For some reason, probably due to something I did, the first planting did not come up. I replanted and now this lettuce is thriving and as I write this it's December 28. I live in zone 8b and haven't yet had to cover any of my cool weather crops to protect them from frost or freezes. The leaves go great on BLT's or in my salads.
Which best describes you as a gardener? ExpertBIBotanical Interests12/30/25Hey Ray,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with our Rouge d'Hiver Romaine Lettuce Seeds! Don't worry about that first planting not coming up - it happens to the best of us and we're so glad you gave it another go! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that your lettuce is thriving now, especially in late December - that's the beauty of cool weather crops! Zone 8b is perfect for growing these beauties through the winter months. We love that you're enjoying them on BLT's and in salads - there's nothing quite like fresh homegrown lettuce to elevate any meal! Thank you for choosing us and for sharing your growing success with us. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Susan K.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars9/6/25Excellent flavor
This has become a favorite romaine@
Which best describes you as a gardener? ExpertBIBotanical Interests9/9/25Hey Susan K.,
We're so glad to hear that the Rouge d'Hiver Romaine Lettuce ha become a favorite! We absolutely love hearing that.
Rouge d'Hiver really is such a fantastic winter romaine variety, and it sounds like you've discovered exactly why so many gardeners keep coming back to it season after season. That excellent flavor you mentioned is exactly what makes this variety stand out!
Keep on growing 🌻️
- Joyce H.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars1/7/255 Stars
Love the variety and quality
- Elsa H.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars12/13/245 Stars
Beautiful and delicious in salads! It germinates and grows very well in my hydroponic setup. The color is more vibrant the more light it gets. Leaves that aren’t hit by direct light tend to stay green.