Firecracker

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Firecracker to a garden.

Feel the crisp snap before you even harvest—Firecracker Crisphead Lettuce forms tight, luminous heads with a lively, chartreuse-to-deep-green glow and a wonderfully crunchy bite.

The leaves are thick and buoyant, holding their structure beautifully for salads and fresh plates, while their clean, sweet flavor shines in chilled bowls and vibrant garnishes. Grow Firecracker for a showpiece head that stays crisp and satisfying from garden to table.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Rosette

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Firecracker Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Firecracker’s thick, tight head is made for loud crunch—dress it cool and keep it moving so it never turns limp. Its mild sweetness plays beautifully with sharp, fatty partners like lemon, aged cheese, and cured pork.

Best Uses

ice-cold salad bowls where the leaf must stay upright and crunchy
wedge-style lettuce with a thick dressing that clings without soaking
crisp lettuce for wraps and handhelds—no weeping, no collapse

Flavor Profile

cool, clean sweetness snappy, thick-buoyant crunch mild, green flavor with a fresh finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette goat cheese grated Parmesan cherry tomatoes bacon or prosciutto olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common pest or disease issue for Lactuca sativa (lettuce) like Firecracker, and how do I treat it?

For lettuce, one of the most common problems is aphids, which cluster on tender leaf undersides and weaken plants. Spray a strong jet of water to knock aphids off, then apply insecticidal soap directly on the undersides and repeat every 5–7 days until new growth is free of aphids. If you see silvery speckling and leaf scarring from thrips, remove heavily affected leaves and keep weeds down around the bed to reduce breeding sites.

How often should I water Firecracker lettuce during its main growing phase?

Keep the soil consistently evenly moist from transplanting/establishment until harvest—lettuce roots prefer a damp but not soggy bed. Water deeply about 1–2 times per week depending on heat, aiming for the top few inches to stay moist; in hot weather, you may need more frequent watering to prevent dryness-triggered bitterness. Avoid letting soil dry out completely, which can cause stress, slow growth, and faster bolting.

How can I tell when Firecracker lettuce is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads/rosettes are fully formed for the variety, typically around 70 days after sowing, and the leaves should feel crisp and reach their expected size. Look for a firm center (or well-developed rosette) and avoid waiting until leaves start to get noticeably loose or elongated. For best flavor, cut in the morning and harvest before the plant bolts (when the center rapidly stretches and flowers begin forming).