Buzz
It's difficult to picture a salad or a sandwich without lettuce. With countless varieties available, there's a perfect lettuce for every palate. Lettuce also plays a key role in many tasty vegetable dishes. In this article, we'll explore how to grow lettuce, different types of lettuce, how to choose lettuce, and the health benefits of lettuce.
Lettuce & Lettuce Recipe Image Gallery
Lettuce leaves come in a variety of colors, from pale green to reddish-brown. Explore more images of lettuce & lettuce recipes.All About LettuceLettuce is a resilient, rapidly-growing annual vegetable with either loose or tightly packed leaves. The color of the leaves varies from light green to reddish-brown. When lettuce bolts or goes to seed, its flower stalks can reach 2 to 3 feet tall, with small, yellowish flowers along the stalk. The most common lettuce found in supermarkets (iceberg or crisphead lettuce) is one of the hardest to grow in a home vegetable garden. Butterhead lettuces, which feature loose heads and tender, crunchy leaves, are easier to cultivate. Romaine (or cos) lettuce grows into a long, loose head and has a flavor that falls between butterhead and leaf lettuce. Leaf lettuce is a breeze to grow, grows quickly, and adds both volume and vibrant color to salads.Common Name: LettuceScientific Name: Lactuca sativaCold Tolerance: Extremely Cold Hardy (can endure the first frost)In the next section, we'll guide you through the process of growing lettuce. Looking for more lettuce-related insights? Suggested Topics: - Vegetable Recipes: Discover tasty recipes that incorporate lettuce.
- Vegetable Gardens: Cultivate a bountiful vegetable garden this season.
- Gardening: Get expert answers to all your gardening questions.
How to Grow Lettuce
Lettuce thrives in cooler weather, typically grown from seeds planted in the garden about four to six weeks before the expected last frost. Hot summer days will cause the plants to bolt. If you live in an area with a brief, hot growing season, begin growing head lettuce indoors from seed about eight to ten weeks before the average last frost date;transplantas early as possible to ensure the plants mature before the weather turns too hot.
Lettuce is a crop that thrives in cool seasons.Plant lettuce in succession starting mid-summer. In areas with mild winters, you can grow crops in spring, fall, and even winter. If sowing lettuce directly in the garden, plant the seeds 1/4 inch deep in broad rows. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin leaf lettuce to 8 inches apart and head lettuce to 12 inches apart. Proper thinning is crucial: Without it, heading lettuce won’t form heads, and overcrowding can cause all lettuce to bolt. Lettuce prefers well-drained, moisture-retentive soil, and should be kept consistently moist. Avoid letting the shallow-rooted plants dry out. Harvesting Lettuce As the plants grow, you can either harvest the outer leaves and let the inner ones continue to develop, or cut the whole plant at ground level. It’s best to harvest when the weather is cool, as leaves can become limp in the midday heat. Chilling the leaves after harvesting will help them crisp up again. Lettuce Growing Tips These tips will help you grow fresh, crispy lettuce:- Raised beds covered with heavy-duty floating row covers can protect from frosts and light freezes in early to mid-spring and late fall or even winter in mild climates.
- Cold frames, heated by sunlight, allow for earlier spring growth and later fall or winter crops. These are rectangular, translucent boxes, approximately 2 feet wide, 4 feet long, and 18 inches high, with a hinged lid for easy access and ventilation. Plant seeds or seedlings inside, keeping the lid closed to retain heat.
- A hot bed, an upgraded cold frame, is excellent for winter lettuce. It uses a heating cable beneath the cold frame, covered by wire mesh to protect the cable, topped with a layer of sand mixed with compost.
- For a longer lettuce harvest, pick the outer leaves as they mature and allow the inner leaves to continue growing. However, once the weather warms in spring, cut the entire plant before it bolts and turns bitter.
- Maximize your harvest by planting lettuce and tomatoes together in an 18- or 24-inch-wide pot. Pick lettuce leaves as they grow and leave space for the tomatoes. Here’s how: Fill the pot with a pre-moistened mix of 1/3 compost and 2/3 peat-based potting soil. Plant lettuce seedlings or seeds around the pot’s edge and place a tomato seedling in the center. Place the pot in a sunny, frost-free spot, water regularly, and fertilize once a month or as needed to promote healthy growth.
- Vegetable Recipes: Discover tasty recipes that incorporate lettuce as a key ingredient.
- Vegetable Gardens: Cultivate a thriving vegetable garden and enjoy a full harvest this year.
- Gardening: Get expert answers to all your gardening-related questions.
Varieties of Lettuce
With such a wide range of lettuce varieties available, gardeners will always have a fresh option to choose from.Lettuce types are divided into Butterhead, Cos (Romaine), Crisphead, Loosehead (Leaf), and Mixed varieties. Below, we list the varieties within each category.Butterhead Varieties:- Bibb, ready to harvest in 75 days, features a tender flavor with dark green, loosely-formed heads.
- Buttercrunch, also ready in 75 days, is an All America Selection with small, compact heads and a buttery texture, known for its heat tolerance.
- Little Gem, matures in 65 days, producing early, compact, and high-yielding plants.
- Paris Island, ready in 70 days, is the classic romaine variety with 10-inch heads, known for resisting bolting.
- Great Lakes, which takes 90 days to harvest, produces large, full heads that can endure some heat.
- Iceberg, ready in 85 days, is compact with light green, crisp leaves.
- Green Ice, maturing in 45 days, offers crisp, sweet, and highly ruffled green leaves.
- Red Salad Bowl, ready in 50 days, produces finely divided, dark burgundy leaves.
- Oak Leaf, harvesting in 50 days, is a heat-tolerant variety with deeply lobed, dark green leaves.
- Majesty, harvested in 50 days, features deep purple-red leaves.
- Various mixed lettuce varieties are now available. Summer Glory, for example, includes 7 heat-resistant varieties.
- Vegetable Recipes: Discover tasty dishes that highlight lettuce.
- Vegetable Gardens: Grow a full and bountiful harvest of amazing vegetables this season.
- Gardening: Get answers to all your questions about the wonders of gardening.
Choosing the Right Lettuce
Lettuce is a vegetable that shines best when it's crisp and fresh. Avoid wilted greens or those with brown or slimy leaves. Once they reach this state, they're beyond saving. Look for vibrant colors and firm leaves. Store greens in your refrigerator's crisper drawer, keeping roots intact, in breathable plastic bags.Romaine is a staple in the produce section, and it's a healthier option than iceberg lettuce. Lesser-known greens come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, and many manufacturers conveniently pack them together in ready-to-eat salad mixes.
Lettuce leaves should be crisp and vibrant in color.Here are tips for choosing and storing different types of lettuce: Arugula: Known also as rocket, these tiny, flat leaves have a spicy, peppery kick. As the leaves age, the flavor becomes more mustard-like. Arugula is most commonly found at ethnic or farmers' markets and is highly perishable, lasting only a day or two. Chicory: Often confused with curly endive, this curly green has a bitter taste and pairs perfectly with bold, flavorful dressings. Endive: Often called Belgian endive or white chicory, this pale green variety has tightly packed leaves and a mild bitterness. It stays fresh for about three to four days. Escarole: A relative of chicory, escarole has broad, slightly curved green leaves and a more subdued flavor than Belgian endive. Radicchio: Resembling a small red cabbage, radicchio is a member of the chicory family but with a milder bitterness. It can be stored for up to a week. Romaine: Also called cos, Romaine has crisp, long leaves with just a hint of bitterness. It’s hearty, storing well for up to ten days. Watercress: This delicate green is often sold in bouquets or vacuum-sealed packs. Choose dark, glossy leaves and keep them in plastic bags; use within a couple of days. Unopened vacuum packs last up to three days.Suggestions for Preparing and Serving LettuceDirt and grit often collect between salad leaves. To clean, separate the leaves and wash them thoroughly. For small amounts, swish the leaves in a bowl of water and then rinse. As a general rule, the more bitter the green, the more robust the dressing should be. Strong, flavorful greens pair well with dressings such as warm mustard or garlic-based sauces.Head to the next section to discover the health benefits of lettuce.Looking for more lettuce information? Check out these:- Vegetable Recipes: Explore recipes featuring lettuce and other fresh vegetables.
- Vegetable Gardens: Cultivate a fruitful garden with a variety of vegetables this season.
- Gardening: We provide answers to all your gardening questions.
Health Benefits of Lettuce
All varieties of lettuce are incredibly low in calories, but their nutritional value varies. While Romaine provides a solid nutritional profile, iceberg lettuce falls short. To create the ultimate healthy salad, use a variety of leafy greens. Greens such as radicchio, arugula, endive, chicory, and escarole not only add flavor but also boost your salad's nutritional content. Some greens help promote weight loss while offering valuable nutrients.fiberThe 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest consuming approximately 2 cups of vegetables daily. According to the guidelines, it takes two cups of raw greens to equal one cup of vegetables.
Lettuce is incredibly low in calories, and many varieties offer impressive nutritional value.Health Benefits of Lettuce The deeper the color of a salad green, the more nutrients it provides. Beta-carotene, a key disease-fighting nutrient, is abundant in darker greens. As a powerful antioxidant, it combats certain types of cancers.heart disease, andcataracts. A deep green color often signals the presence offolic acid, which helps reduce the risk of neural-tube defects during early pregnancy stages. Ongoing research continues to reveal additional health benefits of folic acid, including its potential in preventing heart disease and reducing inflammation. Many salad greens are also excellent sources of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.Chicory is rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant nutrient associated with the prevention of heart disease, cancer, and cataracts. Certain salad greens, such as arugula and watercress, belong to the cruciferous family, further enhancing their cancer-fighting properties.Nutritional Information for FreshRomaine LettuceServing Size: 1/2 cup, shredded| Calories | 0 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 1 g |
| Protein | <1 g |
| Dietary Fiber | <1 g |
| Sodium | 2 mg |
| Calcium | 8 mg |
| Potassium | 58 mg |
| Vitamin A | 1,365 IU |
| Folic Acid | 32 micrograms |
| Vitamin C | 6 mg |
| Carotenoids | 1,362 micrograms |
- Vegetable Recipes: Discover tasty recipes that incorporate lettuce.
- Nutrition: Learn how lettuce contributes to your nutritional goals.
- Vegetable Gardens: Grow a successful vegetable garden this year.
- Gardening: We provide answers to all your gardening questions.
