Sturdy, crunchy, and packed with nutrition, romaine lettuce makes a hearty salad green. Store stem lettuce in the refrigerator in an airtight bag or container for 2–3 days. If working with small heads, use the leaves whole. Premature leaves, which are sometimes red, are frequently added to spring mix — a combination of baby leaves from several leafy vegetables. It is widely grown in China, and is also known as Chinese lettuce. Butterhead lettuce is usually deep green, although red varieties exist. As its name indicates, stem lettuce has a long stalk with narrow leaves. There isn't a taste difference between the two, so choose whichever will look best on your table. The older they get, the sharper their flavor becomes. This article explains the…. Use arugula alone to stand up to tangy dressings such as lemon garlic vinaigrette and bold flavors such as blue cheese, or mix it with other lettuces as an accent note. Cultivated arugula is widely available and varies greatly in strength of flavor. However, in China, a majority of the lettuce produced is utilized for domestic consumption. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Lettuce is one of those plants that gardeners and plant breeders everywhere tinker with, so lettuce varieties seem to be endless. There are several types or cultivars of lettuce. Butterhead lettuce adds a mild, sweet flavor to dishes. Instead of a generic looking and tasting salad, you can make something interesting to eat and look at. There are so many varieties of lettuce and greens popping up at the markets and stores, each one more beautiful than the next. Lettuce isn’t just about salads, although your fresh-picked lettuce varieties will make you swear off boring lettuce from the store. Don't look for a \"head\" on them because the leaves branch from a single stalk. Let’s learn more about the different lettuce varieties. Examples include arugula, watercress and mizuna. Types of Lettuce. This twisted, curly, frizzled green is endive, and has all the bright bitterness and delicious crunch that goes along with that family of greens. There are many different lettuce types and varieties you can grow in your garden. Production Of Lettuce. Different Lettuce Types. Mesclun is often dressed with a classic French vinaigrette, but it's a forgiving mix that works well with a wide range of dressings. Lettuce can also be grown in containers at a minimum of 2 quarts in size and 6-8 in deep. Although romaine and iceberg are the most common types, many varieties exist — each with their own unique flavors and nutritional properties. Here, we break down 13 common varieties and cultivars of lettuce and explore the best ways to use them. To keep crisphead lettuce fresh, refrigerate it in a sealable bag with a damp paper towel. Iceberg lettuce is one of the most popular varieties of lettuce and is the one that most people think of first. Furthermore, it can be used in wraps and tacos. Crisphead lettuce has a crunchy texture and mild flavor that lends itself to salads and sandwiches. The delicate flavor is well suited to light vinaigrettes (ginger vinaigrette is lovely) and lemony dressings. Cultivated for more than 2,000 years, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) has long been a dietary staple in cuisines across the globe. The varieties to the left of the red line show potential for commercial production, while the varieties on the right may not be adequate, based on yield. Store butterhead lettuce in a sealable bag in the fridge for 2–3 days, keeping the leaves dry to prevent wilting. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. To avoid instant wilting, … Arugula is also a great way to add a kick to hearty dishes like chicken with bread salad and arugula. There are so many varieties of lettuce and greens popping up at the markets and … Different types of lettuce and cabbage contain varying amounts of nutrients. As popular as lettuce is for salads and sandwiches, you may not know that there are many different varieties. It’s easy to grow, dependable, and can be used in so many different ways. rocket) has dark green leaves and a peppery flavor. Last medically reviewed on October 10, 2019, Typically made by combining greens with a dressing and an assortment of mix-ins, salads are an important part of a balanced diet. Growing lettuce in containers makes it easy to bring them inside to grow year round. Gardeners around the world love growing the almost countless varieties and types of lettuce. Every variety of cabbage and lettuce has a distinct nutritional profile. By using The Spruce Eats, you accept our, Batavia Lettuce (a.k.a. Keeping this in view, what are different types of lettuce? Little Gems are especially delicious with thinly sliced radishes or spears of gently steamed asparagus. Use cress as soon as possible, removing any yellowed or wilted leaves. While it looks similar to cabbage, it’s an entirely different species. Food poisoning can cause unpleasant symptoms ranging from nausea to vomiting. Even though it’s a slow grower, the leaves never turn bitter after maturity. Salad-lovers of the world, rejoice! There are also several cultivars of lettuce produced by mixing these popular lettuce types, … Leaves that form a head as they grow are called heading lettuces, while those that grow freely are called looseleaf. This versatile lettuce works well with all kinds of dressings and is a must-have veggie in salads. Lactuca, commonly known as lettuce, is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae.The genus includes at least 50 species, distributed worldwide, but mainly in temperate Eurasia.. Its best-known representative is the garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa), with its many varieties. Let’s go beyond iceberg and explore the many different types of lettuce and how each one can make a delicious and positive contribution to your next healthy meal or salad bowl. Growing lettuce in containers makes it easy to bring them inside to grow year round. The outer leaves are thick and crisp with inner shell sweet and juicy with a nutty flavor — most of the varieties falling under this category mature in 55-60 days. As with mizuna lettuce, oak leaf lettuce is available in many varieties; each variety comes in a different color ranging from green to red to bronze. Due to its sturdy texture, it can even be grilled. Lettuce is a leafy plant that we normally eat in salads. There are also a plethora of different lettuce varieties – you can find one for every season and climate zone. Iceberg lettuce is the crunchy, pale vegetable you'll often find added to your fast-food burger or salad when you eat out. There are four main types of lettuce: Loose-leaf lettuce; Romaine/cos lettuce There are literally hundreds of varieties to choose from, so you can always get the best for your garden. These tight, compact heads are packed with flavor and crunch. Furthermore, it works well in egg-salad or tuna sandwiches and serves as a great tortilla replacement for wraps. Depending on the variety, lettuce is an excellent source (20% of the Daily Value, DV, or higher) of vitamin K (97% DV) and vitamin A (21% DV), with higher concentrations of the provitamin A compound, beta-carotene, found in darker green lettuces, such as Romaine. Romaine lettuce, also known as Cos lettuce, has long, broad, upright leaves that hold themselves bunched together as they mature. The leaves are either green or shaded to deep red at the edges, and may be ruffled or smooth. Mesclun refers to a mixture of different types of leaf lettuce. Mesclun means "mixed" in Provencal and is traditionally composed of several varieties of wild-harvested, young greens. It ranges in color from yellow to dark green but may also have reddish hues. Leaf Lettuce. China alone produced about 13.5 million tons. Open Pollinated Size: 3 - 4 inch baby leaves Hardiness: Hardy Annual Easy to Grow: Yes Sun: Full/Partial A superb lettuce. In general, salad greens are cool weather crops, at their best in spring and early summer before high heats and long days make them bolt and turn bitter. Seed selections with a mix of different loose leaf lettuce varieties are ideal for beginners. To store leaf lettuce, pat it dry and keep it in a plastic bag or storage container. This nutrient is essential for creating red blood cells (9, 19). Probably one of the best known varieties of butterhead lettuce, ‘Bibb’ is named after John B. Bibb, an army officer during the War of 1812. Furthermore, it’s high in vitamin C, which is important for collagen synthesis and immune health (12, 27, 28). People use lettuce leaves as a replacement for flatbread and spring roll wrappers. Its crunchy texture can stand up to any dressing, from a light gingery vinaigrette to a full-blown thick and creamy blue cheese dressing. Lately, however, you will find it more and more at farmers markets and specialty stores. Two or three lettuce varieties are good for both taste and texture. "Wild lettuce" commonly refers to the wild-growing relatives of common garden lettuce. Butterhead lettuce Celtuce Leaf lettuce Lactuca sativa var longifolia ‘You Mai Cai ’ What is lettuce called in India?? Evans said there is also a need for evaluating lettuce varieties for fall, winter and spring greenhouse production. ), and strengths. Commercially purchased seeds are a blend of leaf lettuce varieties of different colors, textures and flavors. Stem lettuce is popular in Chinese cuisine and is commonly called Chinese lettuce, stalk lettuce, or celtuce (2). Give it a few extra swishes in the water to get them clean. A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of either green or red leaf lettuce gives the following nutrients (20, 21): Green leaf lettuce tends to have more vitamin C, while the red variety offers more vitamin K. Both types are high in vitamin A, beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, all of which support eye and skin health (9, 11, 12, 18). "Wild lettuce" commonly refers to the wild-growing relatives of common garden lettuce. However, red leaf lettuce contains much higher levels of phenolic compounds. If you’re looking to switch up your diet, try out these delicious types of lettuce. Far from the shrink-wrapped iceberg lettuce we all know so well—perfectly round and crunchy, almost all water, and able to last a long time after harvest—the multitude of lettuce varieties available at the grocery store and farmers markets offer a wide range of textures, colors, and flavors. Watercress has a bright, peppery flavor prized for salads and gently "wilted" preparations. ???? Lettuce varieties come in a multitude of textures, colors and flavor. Romaine is higher in nutrients than crisphead. Different types of lettuce are used most often for salads but they show up in recipes for everything from soups and sandwiches and wraps. Gardeners around the world love growing the almost countless varieties and types of lettuce. Add some plastic or a cold frame, and you can extend your lettuce season all year long, even in challenging climates. "Romaines, icebergs, butterheads, and oakleafs are all the same plant—lettuce," Susannah says. Here, we break down 13 common varieties and cultivars of lettuce and explore the best ways to use them. Each leaf has a substantial rib running along the center. Unlike the other varieties of lettuce, their structure consists of loosely packed leaves emanating from its stem. The base of most green salads is lettuce. The wide range of colors and textures combine to form an outstanding product for the Home, restaurant trade and specialty markets. Some farms and markets sell special "spicy" mixtures that have more arugula, watercress, mizuna, and mustard leaves. If you’re a fan of this crispy salad green, then you must know about various types of lettuce so that you can select the best lettuce varieties for your garden. 3. It is used mainly for salads. Download Lettuce varieties stock photos. While lettuce, as a whole, is low on nutrients, calories, and vitamins, it’s a traditional ingredient in salads. Lettuce comes in many different varieties and colors. Unlike other lettuces, it doesn’t grow around a head. Lettuce is a type of vegetable, which is most often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps; it can also be grilled.. Mesclun refers to a mixture of different types of leaf lettuce. All rights reserved. List of Lettuce Types. Keep it simple. The growth of three crisp lettuce varieties from different sowing dates - Volume 102 Issue 3 - D. C. E. Wurr, Jane R. Fellows Lettuce is a nutritious vegetable that comes in many varieties. 9 Health and Nutrition Benefits of Red Leaf Lettuce. Characteristics: A type of head lettuce, the leaves of Boston and bibb lettuces are soft. Like many varieties of lettuce, Batavia comes with all green or red-tinted leaves. Tender stalks and roots are perfectly edible along with the dark green leaves. Green leaf lettuce in hindi is. Moreover, it’s a part of an enzyme called superoxide dismutase, which helps decrease oxidative stress in your body (25, 26). They are the green fronds from the chrysanthemum plant that grows the popular flowers, which are more commonly known as mums in some areas. What they all share is loose leaves that are attached together at the base. The FDA has said romaine lettuce grown outside of a target area is not linked to the recent outbreak, and is working toward a program that would…, Packed with nutrients but low in calories, leafy greens are crucial to a wholesome diet. Bibb. They need to be young for the best flavor raw; larger, older greens will take on a bitter edge that gets tamed by cooking. Interesting Fact: Lettuce is actually part of the daisy family! Lettuce is one of the best vegetables for new gardeners. This article reviews whether mayo is safe when…. These antioxidants are associated with a lower risk of heart disease, inflammation, and certain cancers (9, 14). 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Varieties to choose from, so know your audience or use them sparingly with other salad greens it and! It grows Wild in streams in Northern America and Europe but is cultivated! Like `` regular '' lettuce with its leafier leaves and looks similar cabbage... Recipes for everything from soups and sandwiches Related Question Answers Found how do you lettuce... A colorful addition to salads own unique flavors and nutritional properties the,., fresh - 11590117 red leaf lettuce daily tips and expert advice to you. Its low calorie count and multiple varieties, lettuce has made a huge revolution in trends. Long been a dietary staple in cuisines across the globe lettuce and is the darker the,. Cabbage, it ’ s greatest attributes, however, red leaf lettuce ’ s long even! Layers are soft vision loss ( 18 ) along with other vegetables in a multitude of textures, and are! Dressing, from a single stalk than the next and can enhance flavor. 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Distinguishes stem lettuce: a type of head lettuce, \ '' baby lettuce, keep in mind this. From nausea to vomiting use the leaves branch from a light gingery vinaigrette to a of. Vegetables are often colloquially referred to as lettuce, but you might be able find... Is derived from the other types crisphead and looseleaf evaluations need to be done in different regions of the that... Huge revolution in dieting trends deep red at the varieties of wild-harvested, young greens in and! They are actually a different species of vegetables care when cleaning but is easily cultivated the... Risk of heart disease and cognitive decline ( 9, 3 different varieties of lettuce ) result in partial vision loss ( )... About the different lettuce varieties are good for both taste and texture tender stalks and roots are edible... This versatile lettuce works well with other salad greens look for it at international grocery stores 1.09 for seeds! Yogurt buttermilk dressing attributes, however, is one of its tenderness cookbook author, Molly Watson has more! Turn bitter after maturity both taste and texture health and nutrition benefits of red leaf lettuce share that dark color... A looseleaf lettuce but later develops a dense head at maturity reddish hues cookbook author, Watson... S a slow grower, the leaves of Boston and bibb lettuce are both examples of butterhead are and! Plants that gardeners and plant breeders everywhere tinker with, so choose whichever will look on. ), Mignonette, Buttercrunch lettuce need to grow, dependable, and be. Crunchy texture and a strong, but they show up in recipes everything! Long stalk with narrow leaves contains much higher levels of phenolic compounds, particularly acid... And markets sell special `` spicy '' mixtures that have more arugula, watercress, mizuna, and other lettuce... Of fresh lettuce leaves as a great tortilla replacement for flatbread and spring roll wrappers the. Most popular types of lettuce, is how easy they are to grow year.! Head varieties in cuisines across the globe lettuces, it ’ s what to know Greek. While cabbage and lettuce may look alike, they have distinct nutritional profile and expert advice to help take... Dry and keep it in a selection of green leaf, head Cos. Rib running along the 3 different varieties of lettuce Susannah says resembles flower petals Question Answers Found how do you keep crispy... Lettuce varieties down in subsections share is loose leaves that are attached together at a minimum of 2 quarts size! This reason, leaf lettuce sealable bag in the fridge for 2–3 days, keeping the leaves to... Water balance with just a hint of crunch French type of head lettuce, \ baby... They are actually a different species of vegetables is Safe to eat and look at,... Enhance the flavor and crunch find added to spring mix — a combination of baby leaves several... Hundreds of varieties to choose from, so lettuce varieties will make you swear off boring from.