Celtuce is an intimidating looking vegetable , but do n’t permit its fearsome appearance put you off . It ’s a wonderful tasting plant and super easy to grow .
It tastes something like if celery , lettuce , and asparagus got all blended together into one crisp , juicy stalk .
Celtuce is arrant as a salad topping . Despite its coming into court , it ’s mild and you ’ll be surprised at its flavor : nutty with a hint of bullet .
While it is n’t incredibly well - known in the U.S. , it ’s gaining popularity among chefs and home cooks for its versatility and smell . quick to learn more ?
What is Celtuce?
Celtuce is an annual plant and a variety of lettuce . or else of growing it for its leaves , celtuce is produce for its stalk . you could eat the leaves , but they ’re moderately bitter .
Sometimes call asparagus shekels , stem lolly , and Apium graveolens dulce sugar , celtuce is often sold in Chinese markets where you may see it call wosun or qingsun . It front like a broccoli stalking on the exterior and a bit like a cucumber without the seed on the interior .
The industrial plant originated in China and was preface to Europeans in the previous 1800s .
Varieties of Celtuce
You probably wo n’t find many celtuce cultivars at most local nurseries , but online markets hold a variety of come .
Most Lactuca sativa asparagina is sold as a generic variety and the actual type may not be list .
How to Grow Celtuce
stem lettuce grow well in zones 4 to 9 . The optimum growing temperature is between 55 ° F to 70 ° F , but even if you get a snatch ardent in your area , try on celtuce as it ’s a forgiving plant life .
fundamentally , if you may growlettucein your part , you should be capable to grow stem lettuce .
Partial shade to full Sunday is best . If the sun is too raging , the leaves will droop . If you live in an area with very abrasive sun , provide subtlety in the heat of the afternoon ..
A pH of 6.1 to 6.5 is idealistic . Soil should be a light , sandy loam with excellent drainage .
Celtuce is a coolheaded - weather harvest like lettuce . industrial plant while it ’s still cool in spring or later summertime . Or , plant life in the early spill for a late tumble harvesting .
Container Planting
Lactuca sativa asparagina will grow in a container , but you must use a right medium . Like lettuce , celtuce will bolt cursorily to seed if it does n’t get enough H2O , so opt a potting mixing that retains moisture .
employ a large container because celtuce takes up quite a spot of space and needs at least 12 inches between each potted flora .
Planting Seed
industrial plant celtuce come directly in the garden . Plant the seed less than 1/4 in mystifying . Do n’t compact or crusade the soil as celtuce need light to shoot .
Plant in words about 6 inches apart . Once the stem lettuce pullulate and is big enough , thin out to 12 inches apart .
you’re able to originate the celtuce indoors 6 weeks before the last frost and transpose out as long as you ’re careful not to damage the radical .
set every 3 weeks for a uninterrupted supply .
outer space Lactuca sativa asparagina seeds 6 inches apart and reduce them out to 12 in apart when bigger . The leaves spread out on celtuce about 12 to 15 inches across , depending on the diversity , so ensure sufficient airflow .
Caring for Celtuce
Prior to planting , dig in well - rotted manure or a good caliber balanced fertilizer . No further feeding should be involve . If you find the celtuce is tardily - growing or struggling , apply a liquid fertilizer to help it break up up .
You do n’t need to applytoo much nitrogento the works , so do a soil test before deciding to add extra fertilizer .
Celtuce needs the stain to remain moist , but not sop . H2O regularly at the base . Do n’t allow the dirt dry out .
You do n’t require to prune celtuce , though you may bump off some leaves to eat as the flora grow . Also , remove any leaves that seem diseased or dying .
Keep the soil moist and weed at bay by mulch . usance leave , hay , stubble , or any other organic mulch .
Companion Planting for Growing Celtuce
works Lactuca sativa asparagina with :
Common Problems and Solutions for Growing Celtuce
Celtuce faces many of the same issuing that pelf does . Here ’s what to keep an eye out for .
Downy Mildew
Appearing as yellowish to blank spots on the upper leaf and a white fungous cotton on the undersides , downy mildew stunt growing and makes plant unusable .
It ’s distribute by spore , and the disease prefers cool weather and high-pitched humidity .
fend off it by see to it that plants have good air flow . Plant in a cheery and impractical stead and do n’t let plants spring up too close together . off weeds as they produce . Water the soil and not the leaves of flora .
attempt to find insubordinate form or if you ’ve had issue with downlike mildew in the past times . you could also spray plant life with a 50:50 premix of Milk River and water .
As a last resort , you could use an organic copper - based nebuliser as place on the container .
Damping Off
This is another fungous disease that get seedlings to choke and rot at the theme and below the open .
Damping off occurs from a series of circumstances : using contaminated seeded player , soil with hapless drainage or that is inhuman and overly wet , and deficiency of air flow all contribute .
If you raise seed inside with a covered ejaculate tray , crack the palpebra open to allow a little gentle wind in .
Use a upright quality seed parent intermixture that drains well . Sow seeds thinly to avoid overcrowding .
regard using a systemic antifungal as a soil drench prior to planting in the garden .
Lettuce Mosaic Virus
This virus is spread by aphids , so controlling them is key . The stem lettuce will be stunt , especially the upper leaf area . The leaves may be puckered and although some industrial plant get to full size , they may be chicken and deformed .
Remove all widow’s weeds as soon as they appear around the celtuce . Control aphid as shortly as you see any , since they spread the disease . If you suffer from aphid in your garden , spray neem oil on a regular basis throughout the life of the Lactuca sativa asparagina .
Aphids
These sap - sucking insects transfer a peck of other diseases as they go from plant to plant . They excrete honeydew melon – a sweet nub that ants and wasp love to fee on . Sooty mould can form as a result of honeydew , as well .
Spray regularly with neem crude oil if you regain an aphid plague . you could also add constitutive Dalmatia pyrethrum to the first two neem oil sprays to attain an instant knock - down gist .
Cabbage Looper
These slight green caterpillars pull up stakes ragged bound on leaf and leafage as they eat and can eradicate your plants if an plague mother with child . They ’re common on many vegetable .
If you see cabbage loopers , check under the leaves for their eggs , where they ’re put down in uniform rows . scratch up them off with your finger .
I prefer neem oil , but there are some pesticide specific to dinero loopers . They ’re designed to vote out the measuring worm , but not good dirt ball .
Tarnished Plant Bug
This worm has become a unconstipated problem in North America . They take in the fluid from all part of the plant , leave unsightly black spot . finally , the leaves and shoots die back and fall down off .
The adult germ over winters in weeds and debris in the garden .
Keep the surface area complimentary from pot and spray regularly with neem vegetable oil , or if you prefer , homemade ail atomiser . puppy love 5 or 6 garlic baseball mitt into a quart of boiled water . take into account to cool and pour into a spray bottle . Add a little squirt of dishwashing liquidity for adhesion . Spray liberally , covering all surfaces .
Harvesting Celtuce
The full grow leaves of stem lettuce are n’t broadly used because they get coarse and bitter . prove foot a few leaves about three weeks after they appear and see if you like them . sum them to soups , sweat , salads , and casseroles .
Harvest the base before the celtuce prime because by then , the root will be woody and acid or even hollow .
Ideally , the stem should be 12 to 14 inches in duration . strip down the skin off and slice . Lactuca sativa asparagina can be fix fuss - fried , broiled , deep-fried , or sensitive .
Grating it into a raw salad impart a wonderful crunch and celery like savor .
If you ’re selling or stack away stem lettuce , cut off the leaves except for the top tussock of foliage . Do n’t peel it until you ’re ready to eat it or manipulate with it .
If you may grow enough to betray , it ’s a great crop to add to your grocery stall . invigorated celtuce , grown topically will always be a great seller .
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