Types of lettuce at a glance
Lettuce is more than the classic green head: from crunchy iceberg through tender cut-and-come-again lettuce to hardy lamb's lettuce, there is a huge choice – and the right type for almost every season. Anyone who combines different lettuces harvests fresh leaves from spring into winter.
Broadly, lettuces can be divided into head lettuces, cut-and-come-again lettuces and lamb's/winter lettuces.
In short
- Head lettuces form firm heads (butterhead, iceberg, batavia, romaine).
- Cut-and-come-again lettuces are harvested leaf by leaf (lollo, oak-leaf, Asian salads).
- Lamb’s and winter lettuces provide fresh greens in the cold season.
- Part shade and even moisture prevent bolting.
Head lettuces
Head lettuces form firm heads and are harvested whole. These include the tender butterhead lettuce, the crunchy iceberg lettuce, the robust batavia lettuce and the upright, firm romaine lettuce. They suit bed and cold frame and are mostly easy to grow.
Cut-and-come-again and picking lettuces
Cut-and-come-again lettuces do not form a firm head – you harvest the outer leaves and the plant grows back. Popular are lollo rosso/bionda, oak-leaf lettuce and the spicy Asian salads. They provide fresh leaves over a long period and are ideal for continuous harvesting.
Lamb’s and winter lettuces
| Lettuce | Season | Special feature |
|---|---|---|
| Lamb’s lettuce | autumn–winter | very frost-hardy, nutty |
| Endive | late summer–autumn | slightly bitter, robust |
| Radicchio/sugarloaf | autumn | tangy, storable |
| Winter purslane | winter | mild, very hardy |
Frequently asked questions
Why does my lettuce bolt so quickly?
Heat, drought and lack of light encourage bolting. Water evenly and plant in part shade in summer.
Can I harvest lettuce all year round?
Yes – with the right choice of types and some protection (fleece) you harvest fresh leaves almost all year.
Tip
Sow lettuce successionally every two weeks in small amounts – this way you harvest continuously fresh instead of everything at once.
Caution
Harvest head lettuce preferably in the morning – in the midday heat the leaves wilt quickly and keep less well.
Whether head, picking or winter lettuce – strong young plants bring a harvest head start. We raise our lettuce young plants to be robust.