Red Iceberg

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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

Crisp as freshly fallen snow, Red Iceberg forms tight, rounded heads with a dramatic blush of deep ruby to wine-red at the outer leaves.

The texture is satisfyingly crunchy from core to edge, with tender, pale centers that stay sweet and clean in cool weather. Grow Red Iceberg for standout salads and elegant layering—its striking color makes every bowl look garden-fresh from the first bite to the last.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Red Iceberg 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	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Red Iceberg is for the people who want crunch that survives—tight heads, ruby outer leaves, and that sweet, cool core make it ideal for wedges and lightly dressed salads where it won’t go limp or taste bland.

Best Uses

chopped salads where the shards need to stay rigid under light dressing
iceberg-style wedge builds with creamy dressing and crispy toppings
simple salt-and-lemon treatments to highlight the cool sweetness
layered sandwiches where it adds a fresh, crunchy barrier

Flavor Profile

clean, sweet lettuce bite cool, crisp crunch mild grassy snap at the edges watery juiciness in the outer leaves

Kitchen Pairings

buttermilk ranch lemon vinaigrette bacon hard-boiled egg parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Lactuca sativa (iceberg lettuce), and how can I manage it?

A frequent issue is downy mildew and tip burn-like stress, often triggered by cool-wet conditions and inconsistent moisture. Improve airflow with wider spacing, avoid wetting the leaves when watering, and remove the worst leaves early to slow spread. If mildew appears, use a labeled fungicide for lettuce/downy mildew and keep the soil evenly moist (not soggy) to reduce stress-related damage.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during the main growing phase?

During head formation (after plants establish), keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and soil type. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil starts to dry, because lettuce heads can become bitter or loose if moisture swings. In hot weather, you may need brief, more frequent watering to maintain even moisture.

How do I know when my red iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 70 days when heads feel firm and have filled out, with crisp outer leaves and minimal leaf floppiness. Use the “gentle squeeze” test—if the head compresses easily, give it a few more days. Cut the head at the base early in the day for the best crispness, and don’t wait until leaves start to yellow heavily at the center.