Hybrid

Fiero

Cichorium intybus

Wikimedia Commons

Fiero's deep maroon heads with contrasting white ribs are 7-8 1/2" tall and impressively early. Good uniformity and sure-heading ability offers superior yield potential. Best for fall production. Also available in organic seed.

Harvest

66d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

3–8

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

3-4 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Fiero in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 lettuce →

Zone Map

Click a state to update dates

Fiero · Zones 3–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing10-12 inches

SoilWell-draining loam enriched with compost; no specific pH requirement but slightly acidic preferred

WaterModerate — regular watering

SeasonBiennial

FlavorMild, tender, subtly sweet; sweeter when grown in cool fall conditions

ColorDeep maroon with white ribs

Size7-8 1/2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	—	—	May – June	July – October
Zone 4	—	—	April – June	July – October
Zone 5	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 6	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 7	—	—	March – May	May – November
Zone 8	—	—	March – April	May – December
Zone 9	—	—	February – March	April – December
Zone 10	—	—	January – March	March – December
Zone 1	—	—	June – July	August – September
Zone 2	—	—	May – July	July – September
Zone 11	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 12	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 13	—	—	January – February	February – December

Succession Planting

Direct sow Fiero every 14–21 days from March 1 through early May in zone 7, then pause once daytime highs are consistently above 80°F — chicory handles heat better than lettuce, but sustained warmth pushes it toward bolting and real bitterness in the heads. Pick back up in late August and sow through mid-September for a fall run; the drop in night temperatures below 60°F actually mellows the flavor noticeably. Two windows per season, 3–4 staggered sowings each, gets you steady cuts without a glut.

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High, Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Fiero reaches harvest at 66 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 7-8 1/2" at peak.

Brown oblong and 5-ribbed achene with blunt ends. The wider end has a bristles across the top.

Color: Brown/Copper, Cream/Tan. Type: Achene.

Edibility: Leaves can be used in salads or cooked to reduce bitter flavor. Roots can be dried and used as a coffee substitute.

Storage & Preservation

Store freshly harvested Fiero heads in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator at 32–40°F with 95% humidity for optimal longevity. Most chicory varieties, including Fiero, will keep for 2–3 weeks under these conditions, though quality peaks within the first week.

For preservation, freezing works adequately: blanch leaves for 2–3 minutes, chill in ice water, drain thoroughly, and freeze in airtight containers for up to eight months. Drying is viable for later use in soups or stocks—air-dry at 95–115°F until brittle, then store in sealed jars. Fermentation is also worthwhile; pack shredded leaves with 3% salt by weight and weigh down to submerge; fermentation completes in 1–2 weeks at room temperature.

Fiero's slightly bitter, tender leaves are particularly suited to quick preservation methods that maintain texture, so avoid prolonged blanching if you plan to use them fresh or in salads post-thaw.

History & Origin

Fiero is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Europe

Advantages

+Deep maroon heads with white ribs provide striking visual appeal
+Impressively early maturity at 66 days accelerates harvest cycles
+Excellent uniformity and sure-heading ability maximize yield potential
+Tall 7-8.5 inch heads offer substantial harvests per plant
+Organic seed option available for certified operations

Considerations

-Best suited specifically for fall production limits spring/summer growing
-May require consistent soil moisture and fertility for uniformity
-Deep color can hide interior quality issues during harvest

Companion Plants

Radishes and carrots are the most practical neighbors for Fiero — carrots root down to 10–12 inches while Fiero stays much shallower, so they're pulling moisture from different zones and not fighting each other. Chives and garlic pull double duty: their sulfur compounds genuinely deter aphids, which hit chicory more than most people expect. Tagetes patula marigolds are worth the bed space for leafminer suppression via root exudates. Sunflowers are the problem neighbor — their allelopathic compounds suppress germination and early establishment of chicory at close range, so give them at least 3–4 feet of buffer or skip the pairing entirely.

Plant Together

Chives

Repels aphids and improves lettuce flavor when planted nearby

Carrots

Loosens soil for lettuce roots and provides natural mulch with feathery foliage

Radishes

Quick-growing radishes break up soil and can be harvested before lettuce needs full space

Marigolds

Deters nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Garlic

Strong scent repels slugs, snails, and aphids that commonly attack lettuce

Nasturtiums

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting lettuce

Spinach

Similar growing requirements and can share space efficiently in cool weather

Dill

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings that prey on lettuce pests

Parsley

Attracts beneficial insects and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture

Keep Apart

Broccoli

Large leaves create too much shade and compete heavily for nutrients

Sunflowers

Allelopathic compounds inhibit lettuce germination and growth

Walnut trees

Produce juglone which is toxic to lettuce and inhibits growth

Nutrition Facts

Protein

0.742g(1%)

Carbs

3.37g(1%)

Fat

0.0738g(0%)

Vitamin K

20.5mcg(17%)

Iron

0.0332mg(0%)

Calcium

14.2mg(1%)

Potassium

139mg(3%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346388)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Aphids, slugs, snails, leafminers

Diseases

Downy mildew, lettuce mosaic virus, sclerotinia (drop)

Troubleshooting Fiero

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level within the first 1–2 weeks after direct sowing — stems pinch off, sometimes with fuzzy white mold on the soil surface nearby

Likely Causes

Damping off — a complex of soil-borne fungi (Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium) that attack seedling stems at the waterline
Overwatering or poorly drained soil keeping the crown wet

What to Do

1.Don't replant into the same spot immediately — the pathogen load is already high; shift to a fresh bed or container with new potting mix
2.Water in the morning so the soil surface dries out during the day, and ease off frequency until seedlings have 4 true leaves
3.If starting again in the same bed, drench with a dilute hydrogen peroxide solution (1 part 3% H₂O₂ to 9 parts water) to knock back surface fungal populations before resowing

White or gray downy coating on the undersides of leaves, with yellow angular patches on the upper surface — usually showing up in cool, wet stretches

Likely Causes

Downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) — a water mold that spreads via airborne spores and thrives below 65°F with high humidity
Crowded planting that traps moisture around the canopy

What to Do

1.Pull and trash affected outer leaves — don't compost them
2.Space plants the full 10–12 inches apart and switch to drip or morning-only watering to keep foliage dry overnight
3.Rotate chicory and lettuce out of the bed for at least one season; Bremia lactucae overwinters in crop debris left on the soil surface

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Fiero lettuce take to grow?▼

Fiero matures in approximately 66 days from direct seeding. If you start seeds indoors and transplant, expect harvest 50–55 days after transplanting. Fall plantings often mature faster (55–60 days) because cool weather favors heading, while spring plantings may stretch to 70+ days if temperatures warm. Direct sow 10–12 weeks before your first expected frost for ideal fall production.

Is Fiero lettuce good for beginners?▼

Yes. Fiero's hybrid vigor and strong heading genetics make it beginner-friendly. It tolerates marginal soil and inconsistent care better than heirloom varieties, and its predictable 85–90% head formation rate means most plantings succeed. The main requirement is consistent moisture and cool temperatures; provide these basics and you'll harvest impressive heads reliably.

Can you grow Fiero lettuce in containers?▼

Absolutely. Use containers at least 10–12 inches deep and wide with drainage holes, filled with quality potting mix. Space plants 8–10 inches apart (1–2 plants per 12-inch pot). Container lettuce dries faster, so water daily or mulch the surface with ½ inch of compost to retain moisture. Containers positioned in morning sun with afternoon shade extend harvest into warmer months.

When should I plant Fiero lettuce?▼

Fiero excels in fall production—sow 10–12 weeks before your first frost date to harvest as temperatures cool. For spring, plant as soon as soil is workable in early spring. Avoid midsummer planting in warm climates; the heat causes bolting before heads mature. Check your local frost dates and plant backward from the fall date for best results.

What does Fiero lettuce taste like?▼

Fiero offers a mild, tender flavor with subtle sweetness—characteristic of high-quality romaine varieties. Fall-harvested heads are noticeably sweeter than spring crops due to cool-weather maturation. The white ribs provide a slightly crisp texture contrast to tender green leaves. It's excellent raw in salads and won't overpower delicate vinaigrettes.

Why didn't my Fiero lettuce heads form?▼

Failure to head typically results from inconsistent watering, heat stress (temperatures above 75°F), or inadequate spacing (plants crowded, competing for nutrients). Ensure 1–1.5 inches of water weekly, thin seedlings to 10–12 inches apart, and provide afternoon shade if spring temperatures exceed 70°F. Excessive nitrogen also delays heading—use balanced fertilizer (5-10-10) rather than nitrogen-heavy options.