Celtuce
Lactuca sativa var. augustana
Also known asStem lettuce · Asparagus lettuce · Chinese lettuce · Celery lettuce · Wosun · Woju · A-choy (leaves)
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 4–9 (winter low around -34°C)
- Frost
- tolerates light frost
- Season
- cool (spring/fall)
Growing systems
Root mass: moderate.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.6 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible
Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
An interesting, underused hydroponic crop, grown like any lettuce. Hold EC around 0.8-1.6 mS/cm and pH 6.0-6.5. It is cool-season, best at 15–22°C, in moderate light, 12-17 mol/m2/day, and works in NFT, deep water culture or media beds. From seed to stem harvest is 60 to 80 days, longer than leaf lettuce because you are waiting for the stem to thicken. Harvest the stem at 3–5 cm across and before flower buds form at the top, then peel the tough outer skin to reach the crisp pale-green core, which slices into rounds or matchsticks for stir-frying, pickling or raw salad; the texture is like broccoli stem or water chestnut. The leaves can be picked progressively as the stem grows, making it a dual-purpose crop. It is rarely stocked outside Chinese markets, which is an opening for growers serving diverse communities, and the novelty draws interest at market stalls.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 38 | open pollinated | 80 | Modern slow-bolt selection. Holds in heat up to about 30C without toughening, useful where summer arrives early. Stems 30+ cm by harvest. The variety most US Asian-vegetable seed catalogs carry. |
| Red Mountain | open pollinated | 70 | Heirloom selection with deep purple-bronze foliage on green stems. Less productive than Summer 38 but the visual draw is the appeal. Same culinary use, leaves work in salad mixes for color. |
| Qingsun No. 1 | open pollinated | 75 | Chinese commercial cultivar (青笋一号), uniform thick stems, the type sold at Chinese-American markets. Harder to find from Western seed catalogs but standard in Asian seed houses. |