It has a tightly compacted head with crisp, lightgreen leaves. Great colour, taste and texture and as the name suggests, this variety can be grown from spring to late summer even earlier and later if cloche protection is available. Lettuce is an ideal crop for beginner growers and seed savers alike. One problem is the stalk also grew tall quickly, so i had to prop them up using string, tied to top of aerogarden hood and then tied to the stalk. Cultivated lettuce varieties vegetables can be grouped into the following growth types. An overview of lettuce production systems and cultivars. Harvest about half of the topsetting onions for green onions before the plants get too big. Lettuce varieties learn about the different types of lettuce.
It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable, but sometimes for its stem and seeds. Start harvesting a few of the small leaves on your early planted lettuce. Some varieties develop a closed head, others are more open. The butterhead varieties are generally small, semiheading types that have tender. Also, both varieties produce compact plants that can be harvested leaf by leaf or as an entire head. Among the more recognizable and heavily consumed of these are the romaine, or cos, and the iceburg, or crisp head, varietals. Some types and varieties of lettuce withstand heat better than others. Lettuce vegetable seeds shop baker creek heirloom seeds. It is widely grown in china, and is also known as chinese lettuce. Head lettuce is the most important salad vegetable grown in the united states. Because of these reasons it is difficult to give the exact spacing of lettuce.
Lettuce production university of california, davis. Boston lettuce is a wellrenowned butterhead type, featuring soft and smooth, lightgreen leaves and big heads. One of the more delicate varieties of lettuce, butterhead is creamy to light green on the inside and loose, soft and ruffled green on the exterior. This high performance variety has been a standard for butterhead lettuces for many years. Both have a specific buttery texture that leaves a particular sweetness in the mouth. Lettuce seeds speciality commercial vegetable seed. The bulk seed prices are for nongmo and untreated seed. Plant in the spring or fall when temperatures are still cool lettuce bolts in warm temperatures. And its slightly more expensive than your average romaine.
There are two different types of butterhead lettuce. Romaine and butterhead lettuce can be harvested in about 60 to 70 days from planting. Most heads required extensive trimming to remove leaves that had even slight defects, and so the percent of weight retained after trimming is an indication of head quality. Lettuce production in the eastern region lettuce needs for relative cool growing season the optimum temperature for germination is from 16 to 20. The two bestknown varieties of butter lettuce in the us are bibb and boston lettuce. But we have good reasons for why we love it, so read on boston and bibb lettuces are two varieties of a larger category of butterhead lettuces, according to the food lovers companion. Elisa is a fast growing butter head lettuce that matures within 65 to 75 days from transplant. Comprehensive brochures can also be viewed or downloaded in pdf format using the links next to each variety, where available. Apr 16, 2020 lettuce, lactuca sativa, annual leaf vegetable of the aster family asteraceae.
An overview of lettuce production systems and cultivars used in hydroponics and protected culture in florida 4 looseleaf, leaf, or cutting. In the garden, the small heads are loosely folded and range in color from pale green to purplered. Lettuce, no matter the variety, is considered a coolweather crop. Nearly all commercially produced leaf lettuce in the united.
Here are a few steps to help you along in the process. Butterhead lettuces have soft, butterytextured leaves that form very loose heads. Lets take a look at the different types of lettuce and some excellent varieties in each category. A thick edible stem, 6 to 8 inches long, distinguishes stem lettuce from other types. The lettuce, in the aerogarden, does not grow out like the pictures i guess due to the pods imposing some limitation, but the leaves got very big, very fast. There are dozens of lettuce types, and they fall into five categories.
Production system and harvesting stage influence on. Looseleaf, or bunching lettuce does not form heads. Certain crisp head varieties will produce smaller prepack heads whereby other varieties can produce verylarge heads. Cover seed lightly, about 18, and firm soil gently. Last but not least is one of the easiest types of lettuce to grow the looseleaf varieties of lettuce, which form no head or heart. Leaf lettuce loose leaf lettuce does not form a head, but stays separately attached at the root. Butter, or butterhead, lettuce form loose heads of melt in your mouth leaves, hence the name butter. Below are product guides for each of starke ayres lettuce seeds speciality varieties.
Head lettuce varieties are planted according to market demand and according to the historical success of. Most of the commercial acreage of lettuce is in the southwestern states, where lettuce, most of it the iceberg type, is grown the year around and. Butterhead lettuce is generally grown to fullsize heads and receives its name from the sweet buttery flavor and delicate texture of the large, ruffled outer leaves. Lettuce spacing depends very much on the hydroponic system used, type of lettuce grown, variety as well as the specific climatic conditions. Diseases of lettuce giiy weston bohn american gardeners grow several types of lettucethe loose leaf varieties, cos or romaine, butterhead, and iceberg. If seed stalks appear, pick the lettuce immediately and store in the refrigerator to prevent bitterness. Harvest these varieties either whole or by the leaf as they mature. The heads of butter lettuce will usually be fairly large, be uniformly green, and have loose, thick leaves. Seeds germinate even at low, 40f 4c, soil temperature, but poorly above 75f 24c depending on the variety and seed lot. Start more heat tolerant lettuce seeds indoors like butter head and romaine varieties. This equates to over 12 billion pounds of leaf lettuce each year.
How to grow hydroponic lettuces a beginners guide green. Lettuce, lactuca sativa, annual leaf vegetable of the aster family asteraceae. Butterhead definition of butterhead by merriamwebster. Buttercrunch is also bolt resistant and will withstand a little more heat than many other lettuce varieties. Butterhead lettuce seeds boston lettuce johnnys selected. Pdf to improve greenhouse lettuce yield and quality and avoid. An overview of lettuce production systems and cultivars used. Jack ice, oscarde, reine des glaces, anuenue, loma, magenta, nevada and roger, all of which mature within 5560 days.
Crisphead, also known as iceberg, is the lettuce most widely available as a fresh market type. A full head of leaves with the central ones tightly packed. Grow heirloom lettuce plant buttercrunch lettuce seeds1963 allamerica selections winner. Butter lettuce also called boston and bibb lettuce, goodquality butter lettuce will have fairly large, loose heads with thick leaves and even green coloring. Lettuce is most often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps. A sweet or bitter smell means sweet or bitter flavor. In the er can be planted from septemberdecember higher temperatures inhibit heading, promote bitter flavor, and accelerate the. Butterhead or boston lettuce tends to form smaller, less firm heads, with soft, waxy leaves. Recent examples on the web head lettuce types like romaine and butterhead perform best when transplanted.
Check out kitazawas bulk quantity pricing on united states provided seed varieties. Most lettuce varieties mature within 30 to 60 days, with leaf lettuces maturing earlier than head types. Boston lettuce has a head shaped like a rose flower. Buttercrunch butterhead lettuce products vegetables. Head type varieties are harvested when they attain good size and become solid leaf should be harvested when leaves are. How to grow butterhead lettuce guide to growing butterhead. The most wellknown head type of lettuce is iceberg, but butterhead, also. The category of leaf lettuce includes many subcategories, such as oakleaf, lollo, multileaf, summer crisp. Hilary dahl, good housekeeping, 4 essential tips for planning your fall gardenand 5 veggies you can still plant in august, 3 aug.
With 5 distinct types of lettuce, youre sure to find a few for you. Lettuce lactuca sativa is an annual plant of the daisy family, asteraceae. Types and varieties there are four major categories of lettuce. Cos, or romaine lettuce forms a more upright, loose head. Crisphead crisphead lettuce also is commonly referred to as iceberg lettuce.
Butter lettuce has a tender texture and large, cupped leaves that work beautifully in salads, especially with delicately flavored dressings such as buttermilk dill. The boston variety has small, round, and loosely formed heads with soft, supple leaves that bruise easily. Iceberg crisphead varieties take longer and should be harvested as soon as a head develops but before outer leaves turn brown. Dont look for a head on them because the leaves branch from a single stalk. Leafy varieties become ready for transplanting within 5060 da t.
Butter lettuce originates from a very old variety of lettuce called silesia, which dates back to 1744. Hydroponic lettuce nutrients best fertilizer for your leafy. Far from the shrinkwrapped iceberg lettuce we all know so wellperfectly round and crunchy, almost all water, and able to last a long time after harvestthe multitude of lettuce varieties available at the grocery store and farmers markets offer a wide range of textures, colors, and flavors. Jose agriculturist ii bpinational crop research and. Butterhead buttercrunch lettuce seeds certified organic. Crisphead has a large solid head similar to a cabbage. Butterhead lettuces can be planted closer together than other varieties because the heads are smaller.
Cutting into the lettuce reveals a soft, folded, and blanched heart. There are many old varieties still available although in the 1950s the butterhead lettuce and to some degree the cos was overshadowed almost completely by the ubiquitous iceberg type lettuces. Pdf growth, yield, and mineral content of butterhead lettuce. Bibb lettuce, or limestone, has a smaller, more cuplike head. Each type has varying growing needs and characteristics. Leaf lettuce comes in red, green, and oak varieties. Elisa produces high quality heads with medium to dark green, thick. Versatile and fast growing, lettuce can be harvested at most any stage, is delicious raw or cooked, and in warmer climates can be grown yearround. Plant at weekly intervals starting in early april and again mid august. Instead of a generic looking and tasting salad, you can make something interesting to eat and look at.
Batavian, butterhead, iceberg, loose leaf, and romaine. Plants we re ha rvested 100, 107 and 114 days after tran splanting. All butterhead lettuces are extremely tender, with smooth, looselycoiled leaves. Butter head or boston lettuce tends to form smaller, less firm heads, with soft, waxy leaves.
Here are some popular hydroponic lettuce varieties. The unique textures and colors of our butterhead lettuce varieties are highly prized by gourmet cooks. The aptly named buttercrunch, or butter crunch lettuce, is a classic butterhead lettuce variety that produces a dynamic and delicious taste. Lettuce is generally a rich source of vitamins k and a, though the nutritional quality varies, depending on the variety. Among the more recognizable and heavily consumed of these are the romaine, or cos, and the iceburg, or crisphead, varietals. We offer many varieties, including bibb and butter lettuce, which are tasty and look lovely.
Lettuce is a fairly hardy, coolweather vegetable thats loved for its variety of textures, flavors, and colors. This is the second most commonly grown hydroponic lettuce type behind the butterhead. There are five distinct types of lettuce leaf also known as loose leaf, cos or romaine, crisphead, butterhead and stem also called asparagus lettuce or celtuce. Leaf lettuce is grown in the coastal areas of salinas. Common butter lettuce varieties are bibb butterhead, little gem butterhead, and buttercrunch. Head or crisphead lettuce are varieties in which the leaves grow in a dense rosette. Pdf effect of harvesting date on yield and quality of lettuce. Gardeners can choose looseleaf varieties that do not form heads or grow iceberg lettuces that form a head of tightly overlapping leaves.
Butter lettuce, along with its sister varieties, has tender leaves and a very mild, slightly sweet flavor. It is a crisphead lettuce, meaning its leaves form a compact head as it growsalthough its head is much less compact than iceberg lettuce. The main ingredient in caesar salads, romaine has a crisp texture and a strong, but not bitter, taste. A new lettuce variety was introduced in 1941 with the release of great lakes, the first true iceberg type, larger and firmer than the crispheads developed earlier in europe. Most lettuce varieties are eaten fresh and are commonly served as the base of green salads.
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