Red Express Cos
Lactuca sativa var. longifolia 'Red Express Cos'
A fast-maturing romaine lettuce with striking red-tinged leaves that intensify in cool weather, creating a beautiful gradient from green to deep red. This variety combines the classic crisp texture and sweet flavor of romaine with ornamental appeal and quick harvest times. Perfect for impatient gardeners who want both beauty and speed in their lettuce patch.
Harvest
48-55d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
6-12 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Red Express Cos in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 lettuce →Zone Map
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Red Express Cos · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 1 | — | — | June – July | July – 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
In zone 7, direct sow Red Express Cos every 14 days starting around March 1. Each sowing takes 48-55 days to reach harvest, so staggering keeps you in steady heads rather than a glut you can't use. Plan your last spring sowing for early to mid-May — once daytime highs hold above 80°F, the plants bolt fast and the leaves turn bitter within a week or two of that threshold.
Pick back up in late August for a fall run, sowing every 14 days through mid-September. Fall sowings often outperform spring ones because the days are shortening and cooling as the plants head up rather than warming toward bolt. You can push into October with row cover if frost threatens; lettuce tolerates light freezes down to about 28°F with a single layer of protection over it.
Complete Growing Guide
Red Express Cos thrives on speed, so succession plant every two weeks for continuous harvests rather than one large planting. This cultivar's 48-55 day timeline accelerates in warm weather, meaning late spring sowings may bolt prematurely—start seeds in early spring or mid-summer for fall crops when cool temperatures lock in that stunning red coloration. Provide consistent moisture and well-draining soil rich in nitrogen to support rapid growth without stalling. While generally pest-resistant, watch for aphids clustering on the tender new leaves during warm spells, and ensure adequate air circulation to prevent fungal issues on crowded plantings. The red pigmentation intensifies dramatically once nighttime temperatures dip below 55°F, so patience through early growth pays dividends. For best results, harvest individual outer leaves once plants reach 6 inches tall rather than waiting for full maturity—this encourages productivity and prevents the lanky stretch that can occur if plants sit too long in heat.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: High Organic Matter. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Harvest Red Express Cos when the leaves display their signature deep red coloration, typically reaching 6-12 inches tall with firm, crisp texture throughout the head. The leaves should feel turgid and snap cleanly when bent, indicating peak hydration and tenderness. For continuous harvests, remove outer leaves individually once the plant is established, allowing the center to continue producing new growth, or cut the entire head at soil level for a single harvest. Timing matters with this fast-maturing variety: pick in early morning after dew has dried but before afternoon heat sets in, as this preserves crispness and ensures the vibrant red pigments are most pronounced.
Tiny seeds with a dandelion-like tuft (pappus) to aid in wind dispersal.
Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Harvest time: Summer
Edibility: Leaves can be used raw or cooked in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. Head lettuce can be stored for 2-3 weeks while leaf and butterhead store for 1-2 weeks.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Red Express Cos unwashed in perforated plastic bags in your refrigerator's crisper drawer at 32-36°F with high humidity. Properly stored heads maintain quality for 10-14 days. Wash leaves only when ready to use, as excess moisture accelerates decay.
The tender leaves don't freeze or dry well, but you can preserve the harvest by lacto-fermenting whole leaves in salt brine for a tangy pickle, or blanching and freezing chopped leaves for soups and stews. For immediate use, Red Express Cos keeps well in ice water for several hours, making it perfect for party preparations. The colorful outer leaves make excellent dehydrated garnishes—dry at 95°F until crisp for a beautiful, edible decoration that retains much of the red coloration.
History & Origin
Red Express Cos represents a modern breeding achievement within the romaine lettuce lineage, specifically developed to meet contemporary demands for quick-maturing ornamental vegetables. While specific breeder attribution and introduction year remain undocumented in readily available horticultural records, this variety clearly emerges from twentieth-century breeding programs focused on accelerating romaine development while enhancing visual appeal through anthocyanin pigmentation. The "Express" designation reflects the cultivar's expedited 48–55 day maturity, a marked improvement over traditional cos varieties. Its red coloration likely derives from selective breeding within existing red romaine germplasm, combining cosmetic traits valued in modern home gardening with the functional crispness and sweetness characteristic of its parent lineage. The variety exemplifies how contemporary seed companies continue refining heirloom lettuce types for efficiency and aesthetic gardening applications.
Origin: Mediterranean to Siberia
Advantages
- +Fast maturity at 48-55 days satisfies gardeners wanting quick harvests
- +Red coloring intensifies in cool weather for striking visual appeal
- +Crisp, sweet romaine flavor combines taste with ornamental garden beauty
- +Easy difficulty level makes it perfect for beginner vegetable gardeners
Considerations
- -Susceptible to lettuce mosaic virus which can devastate entire crops
- -Multiple pest vulnerabilities including aphids, flea beetles, and slugs require management
- -Prone to bolting quickly in warm weather, limiting harvest window
Companion Plants
Radishes are the most practical companion here — direct sow them in the same row and they'll be out of the ground in 25-30 days, well before Red Express Cos fills in at 6-8 inches. Chives and garlic earn their spot for a concrete reason: both release sulfur compounds that disrupt the host-finding behavior of Myzus persicae (green peach aphid), which is also the main vector for lettuce mosaic virus. Neither crop competes seriously for the shallow moisture a cos variety needs. Nasturtiums planted at the row ends act as a trap crop, pulling aphids and flea beetles away from the lettuce heads before they become a numbers problem. Skip fennel entirely — it produces allelopathic root exudates that suppress lettuce germination and growth, and it reseeds so aggressively in zone 7 Georgia gardens that you'll be pulling volunteers out of your lettuce bed for the next two seasons.
Broccoli needs at least 18 inches of separation. The canopy problem is real — a heading brassica can shade a cos variety that needs 4-6 hours of direct light to form a proper head. More practically, both crops draw cabbage loopers (Trichoplusia ni), so planting them side by side concentrates that pest pressure in one place rather than spreading it thin.
Plant Together
Chives
Repels aphids and improves lettuce flavor while providing natural pest deterrent
Carrots
Deep roots break up soil for shallow lettuce roots, different growth habits complement each other
Radishes
Quick-growing radishes help break up soil and can be harvested before lettuce needs full space
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and other harmful insects while attracting beneficial predators
Spinach
Similar growing requirements and harvest times, efficient use of garden space
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing pests away from lettuce
Garlic
Natural fungicide properties help prevent lettuce diseases and repel various pests
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings that prey on lettuce pests
Keep Apart
Broccoli
Competes for similar nutrients and space, both are heavy nitrogen feeders
Parsley
Can attract carrot flies and competes for nutrients, may stunt lettuce growth
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of lettuce and most other vegetables
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346388)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good bolt resistance and tip burn tolerance
Common Pests
Aphids, flea beetles, cutworms, slugs
Diseases
Downy mildew, lettuce mosaic virus, bacterial leaf spot
Troubleshooting Red Express Cos
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings collapse at soil level within the first 7-10 days after direct sowing — stems look pinched or rotted at the base
Likely Causes
- Damping off — a complex of soil-borne fungi (Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani) that thrives in cold, wet, poorly-drained soil
- Overwatering or heavy clay soil that stays saturated after planting
What to Do
- 1.Pull the dead seedlings and check the soil — if you see whitish fuzzy mold on the surface (as NC State Extension's IPM case study describes), that confirms a fungal damping-off problem, not insect damage
- 2.Don't replant immediately into the same spot; improve drainage by working in compost or switching to a raised bed
- 3.Sow shallowly — no deeper than 1/8 inch — and water in, then let the surface dry slightly between waterings to deny the fungi the wet conditions they need
Grayish-white fuzzy coating on the undersides of leaves, with pale yellow patches visible on top
Likely Causes
- Downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) — a water mold that spreads fast in cool, humid weather, especially when nights are damp and temperatures sit between 50–65°F
- Poor airflow from overcrowding at less than 6 inches between plants
What to Do
- 1.Remove and bag affected leaves immediately — don't compost them
- 2.Thin plants to the full 6-8 inch spacing so air can move through the row
- 3.Water at the base, not overhead, and do it early in the morning so foliage dries before nightfall
Leaves mottled with irregular yellow-green mosaic patterns, new growth stunted or puckered
Likely Causes
- Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) — transmitted by aphids (especially Myzus persicae, the green peach aphid) feeding on infected plants nearby
- Starting from infected seed stock
What to Do
- 1.Inspect the undersides of leaves weekly for aphid colonies; knock them off with a strong water spray or treat with insecticidal soap
- 2.Pull and trash any plant showing mosaic symptoms — there's no cure, and leaving it in the ground gives aphids a reservoir to spread the virus
- 3.Source seed labeled 'mosaic-resistant' or from a supplier that tests for LMV before shipping
Ragged holes chewed in leaves overnight, no insects visible during the day; small dark frass pellets near the damage
Likely Causes
- Slugs — active after dark and in wet weather, especially in mulched beds with plenty of organic debris to hide under
- Cutworms (Agrotis spp.) — soil-dwelling larvae that feed at night, sometimes cutting seedlings cleanly at the base
What to Do
- 1.Go out with a flashlight 1-2 hours after dark to confirm which pest you have — slugs leave a slime trail across the leaf surface, cutworms don't
- 2.For slugs: scatter iron phosphate bait (Sluggo or equivalent) around the bed; it's safe near edibles and breaks down in the soil
- 3.For cutworms: dig 2-3 inches around the base of damaged plants and remove larvae by hand; or fit transplants with a cardboard collar pushed 1 inch into the soil at planting time
Frequently Asked Questions
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Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.