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A healthy Cimarron Red romaine lettuce with bronze-red upright leaves in a sunny garden

How to Grow Cimarron Red Lettuce From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Cimarron Red is a striking heirloom romaine with deep bronze-red leaves and a crisp, sweet crunch. Its color intensifies in cool weather and full sun, and it is a little quicker and more heat-tolerant than green romaine while keeping that same sturdy, upright habit. Here is what makes this variety special and how to get the best from it.

This is the quick guide to Cimarron Red. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, sowing, feeding, and troubleshooting lettuce, see our complete guide to growing lettuce from seed.

Quick start

Sow seed about an eighth of an inch deep, barely covered, since lettuce needs light to germinate. Thin plants to 8 to 10 inches apart so the upright heads can develop. Cimarron Red forms bronze-red heads in about 55 to 65 days, with the deepest color in cool weather and full sun. Cut the whole head at the base, or pick outer leaves as you go.

Best tip

Cimarron Red is a beautiful heirloom romaine with deep bronze-red leaves and a crisp, sweet crunch. Its color intensifies in cool weather and full sun, so grow it in spring and fall for the richest tones. It is a little quicker and more heat-tolerant than green romaine, but like all lettuce it grows best kept cool and evenly moist. Sow it shallow and let the upright heads fill in before harvest.

At a glance

Botanical nameLactuca sativa

Plant typeCool-season annual (red romaine)

USDA zones2 to 11 (grown as an annual)

SunFull sun to part shade

Days to maturity55 to 65 days

Height8 to 12 inches

Spacing8 to 10 inches apart

WaterEven and steady; keep moist

Uses

Cimarron Red is a striking heirloom romaine that adds dramatic bronze-red color and crisp, sweet crunch to any salad. Its upright leaves hold up well to dressing like green romaine but bring far more visual interest to the plate. Mix it with green lettuces for a colorful salad bowl, or harvest outer leaves for an ongoing supply.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Cimarron Red lettuce take to grow?

Cimarron Red forms upright heads in about 55 to 65 days, a little faster than green romaine. You can also harvest its colorful outer leaves earlier for salads.

Why is my Cimarron Red lettuce not very red?

Red color deepens with cool weather and full sun. If your plants look more green, give them plenty of sun and grow them in the cool of spring or fall, when the bronze-red pigment develops most strongly.

Is Cimarron Red lettuce heat-tolerant?

This heirloom romaine handles warmth a bit better than many lettuces, but it is still cool-season. In hot regions grow it spring and fall, give afternoon shade, and keep it evenly watered to avoid bitterness and bolting.

What does Cimarron Red lettuce taste like?

It has the crisp, sweet, mild flavor of a good romaine with a satisfying crunch, plus striking bronze-red leaves that make salads look as good as they taste.

Ready to grow your own? Cimarron Red is one of the varieties in our lettuce and salad greens pack, so you can grow colorful upright heads alongside a whole salad garden. For the full step-by-step, see our complete lettuce growing guide linked at the top of this page.

Cimarron Red Romaine Lettuce Seeds – Non-GMO HeirloomHeirloom, non-GMOHeirloom Cimarron Red — deep-red romaine with rich flavor.

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Want more lettuce? These value packs pair Cimarron Red with other varieties:

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Lettuce & Greens Seeds Variety Pack – Non-GMO Heirloom22 lettuce & greensAn even bigger salad collection — 22 lettuces and greens for months of fresh leaves in every color and texture.

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By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.