How to grow... Celtuce
Rocket Growing Guides
- Celtuce is a stem-lettuce with a Chinese origin. It’s an unusual plant that can be used in 2 ways:
- The leaves can be picked whilst young and used like a cut-and-come-again lettuce. As the stem elongates, the rosette formation changes to a small tuft of leaves on the top.
- The second use is for the stem which has a mild celery-like flavour. Peel off the outer layer and slice thinly. This tastes amazing in salads or can be lightly steamed.
- Celtuce Growing Guide
How to Plant Celtuce
- Choose a cool site (eg in partial shade) to prevent the plants from bolting
- Best planted in fertile, moisture-retentive soil or in containers filled with compost – you could plant 3-4 plants in a 40cm pot
- Plant 15cm apart
How to Grow Celtuce
- Water lightly but often so that the soil is kept moist but not waterlogged.
- As the stem elongates, the rosette formation of the leaves naturally changes to a small tuft of leaves on the top.
- Mulching will help keep plants during hot, dry spells
Common Pests and Problems with Celtuce
- Slugs – protect celtuce from slugs and snails, especially while the plants are young
- Discoloured yellow/brown patches on leaves – this is most likely to be a lack of water.
How to Harvest Celtuce
- While the plant is young the outer leaves can be harvested for salads as you need them – after the stem starts to elongate and the rosette changed to a tuft of leaves, let it grow to 20-25cm before harvesting the stems.
- Stems are best used within a few days (peel and slice them up and use them in stir fries)
- You can keep celtuce in the fridge for several days