CELTUCe
Other Common Names Include:
Asparagus Lettuce, Celery Lettuce and Stem Lettuce
Latin Name: Lactuca sativa asparagina and L. sativa angustana
Plant Family: Asteraceae
Close Relatives: Lettuce
Uses and Markets: Culinary: The stem is peeled and used raw, cooked, or stewed and has a similar flavour to celery, lettuce, asparagus or chard. Leaves are less palatable than other greens and therefore are typically not used. Celtuce is used in Asian cuisine, specifically in China.
Production Life Cycle in Ontario
Annual
Hardiness Zone
N/A
Special Notes
Celtuce is a cool season vegetable.
Propagation method
Seeds, transplants.
Greenhouse Seeding/Propagation Dates
March
Field Seeding Date:
April onwards.
Field Transplanting Dates
April
In-row spacing
20-30 cm
Between row spacing
30-40 cm
Optimal Soil temperature at planting
8-15°C
Fertility
No current Ontario fertility recommendations exist. Research and recommendations from outside Ontario do not necessarily apply to Ontario growing conditions. Ontario fertility recommendations for lettuce, a close relative, can be found in the OMAFRA Vegetable Production Recommendations Publication 363, and would be a good starting point. Click here for phosphorus and potassium application guidelines and for more information on specialty crop fertility.
Soil type
Prefers light, sandy loam, well-drained soil or muck soils.
Soil pH
6.1-6.5 on mineral soils, 5.5 on muck soils.
Special requirements for growth habit
None.
Optimal Temperature Range
13-18°C
Temperature sensitivity
Frost tolerant
Irrigation requirements
Irrigation required under normal Ontario conditions.
Days to harvest
70-90 days
Specialized equipment
None
Harvest
Harvest Scheduling
Single harvest
Hand harvest or machine harvest
Hand harvest
Quality parameters/grades
No established grades. Quality is determined by the market.
Additional Harvest Notes
Harvest during cooler parts of the day to reduce moisture loss and cooling costs. Remove field heat as soon as possible after harvest.
Post harvest
Special handling/curing
Vacuum cooling or hydrocooling can help maintain a fresh appearance.
Storage Conditions
Relative humidity (RH): 95-100%
Temperature: 0°C
Air Exchange: N/A
Duration: 10-14 days
Specific pests observed on this crop in Ontario (observations based on limited experience with this crop)
Insects and Invertebrates:
Diseases: Downy Mildew
Other:
Other Potential Pests: The following pests have not been observed on this crop in Ontario. However, they are either significant concerns for closely related plants in Ontario, or are reported on this crop in other production areas. This is not a comprehensive list of all potential pests. Not all of these pests will necessarily survive Ontario’s climate, but could potentially survive in a protected environment (e.g. greenhouse, storage facility).
Insects and Invertebrates: Aphids, Cutworms, Tarnished Plant Bug, Aster Leafhopper, Pea Leafminer, Cabbage Looper
Diseases: Damping off, Botrytis Grey Mould, Sclerotinia White Mould, Septoria Leaf Spot, Rhizoctonia Bottom Rot, Corky Root Rot, Bacterial Wilt, Dry Leaf Spot, Lettuce Mosaic Virus and Aster Yellows, Nematodes
Other:
*Indicates pests commonly mentioned as causing significant damage or economic loss to this crop in other regions.
Comments
To date the following pests have been the most significant in Ontario: downy mildew. This crop is in Crop Group 4: Leafy Vegetables (Except Brassica Vegetables) Group and subgroup 4A: Leafy Greens Subgroup. For more information on Crop Groups, refer to the Pest section. Always refer to product labels, and follow all directions specified on the label, before applying any pest control product. For more information, consult an OMAFRA specialist.
None
- Elford, E., Filotas, M., Todd, J., and S. Westerveld. 2009. Non-traditional crops demonstration garden. OMAFRA Simcoe Resource Centre, unpublished.
- Meyers, C. 1998. Celtuce, Asparagus Lettuce. In Specialty and Minor Crops Handbook, 2nd ed., University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3346.
- Munro, D.B and E. Small, 1997. Vegetables of Canada. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 2010. Vegetable Production Recommendations. Publication 363, Queen’s Printer for Ontario, Toronto.
