Summer 38 Celtuce (Chinese Stem Lettuce)

Lactuca sativa var. asparagina

Days to Maturity: 75-85

Meet a new vegetable! Stem lettuce, also called Celtuce, is a Chinese specialty. Coming from the same species as regular old lettuce, these plants are grown for their large edible stems rather than their leaves. Stem lettuces are the aster family’s answer to kohlrabi.

Our celtuce grower Jeff first tasted stem lettuces in Yunnan Province in 2019 and fell in love. They have a great flavor. Mild and enjoyable: a little lettucy, a little asparagusy. While other varieties can only be grown in the fall, this variety lives up to its claim to fame: producing an excellent crop in the summer! They are also grasshopper and pest resistant!

The stems last weeks and weeks in the refrigerator, similar to their brassica rivals the kohlrabi. Try this new veggie!

Original seed from Groundwork in Paonia, CO. 

Planting Instructions: Sow Summer 38 Celtuce seeds outdoors in early spring thru late summer, every 3 weeks. Sprinkle 1/4" soil on top, keep evenly moist until germinated.

Seed Saving Instructions: Allow most vigorous and tastiest plants to bolt & flower. Collect Summer 38 Celtuce seed when white fluffs form from the flowerheads. Store seeds in a paper or mesh bag in a cool, dark and dry location.

Approx 400 Summer 38 Celtuce seeds per packet