Celtuce

Lactuca sativa var. augustana

vegetable

Celtuce (Lactuca sativa var. augustana), also called stem lettuce or asparagus lettuce, is a type of lettuce bred for its thick, succulent flower stalk rather than its leaves. The peeled stem is crisp, juicy, and mildly nutty, eaten raw in salads or stir-fried, while the young leaves can be used like leaf lettuce before they turn bitter. As a cool-season lettuce it bolts in heat, but here that bolting is the goal, since it produces the swollen, edible stem. It is grown as an annual.

☀️

Sun

full sun to partial shade

💧

Water

Every 4 days

🌾

Harvest

~85 days

📊

Difficulty

medium

🌱

Lifecycle

annual

One season, then done

↔️

Spacing

10-12 in apart

⬇️

Planting Depth

Sow 0.25 in deep

🧪

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Growing Details

Soil Type

Fertile, moist, well-drained

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4 – 9

Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.

When to Fertilize

Feed lightly and evenly through growth

Fertilizer

Balanced fertilizer or compost; steady nitrogen for tender stems

🌱 Growing Guide

Grow celtuce like lettuce, in full sun to light afternoon shade in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Start seed indoors about four weeks before the last frost or direct sow in early spring, and again in late summer for a fall crop, since cool weather grows the best stems. Thin plants to about 10 to 12 in apart so the stem can thicken. Keep the soil evenly moist and feed lightly, as steady, unchecked growth gives the most tender stems; drought stress makes them tough and bitter. Harvest when the stem is thick but before the plant flowers.

Planting Calendar

spring planting

🌱

Start seeds indoors

Mar 18

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Transplant outdoors

Apr 1

🌾

Projected first harvest

Jun 25

fall planting

🌿

Direct sow

Aug 25

🌾

Projected first harvest

Nov 18

JJan

FFeb

MMar

AApr

MMay

JJun

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

Carrot — Uses different root space and makes good use of the bed
Radish — Quick crop harvested before the celtuce needs the room
Beet — A cool-season companion with complementary needs

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

Aphids
Cluster on leaves and stem; rinse off and conserve ladybugs
Slugs
Chew leaves and stems; use barriers, traps, and handpicking
Leaf miners
Tunnel inside leaves; remove mined leaves and use row cover

🌾 Harvest & storage

Harvest celtuce when the central stem has thickened to about an inch and is roughly a foot tall, but before flower buds open, as bolting turns the stem bitter and woody. Cut the whole stalk at the base, strip the leaves, and peel off the tough, slightly bitter outer skin to reach the crisp, pale green core, which is eaten raw or cooked. Young leaves taken earlier can be used like lettuce.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Celtuce is low in calories and a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and folate. The crisp peeled stem is eaten raw or stir-fried, and the young leaves like leaf lettuce.

For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.