Winter Lettuce

Lettuce Types

Lettuce varieties are classified into five groups depending on head formation and leaf qualities. These five groups are 1) Crisphead or Iceberg, 2) Summer Crisp, French Crisp or Batavian, 3) Butterhead, Boston or Bibb 4) Romaine or Cos and 5) Looseleaf, Leaf, Cutting or Bunching.

Crisphead or Iceberg

Characterized by a tight firm head of crisp, light green leaves with a white, densely packed heart. This lettuce type is generally intolerant of hot summer conditions, and water or nutritional stress at any time of growth tends to result in premature bolting and poor growth. In summer, some varieties tend to develop slimy internal rotting. Grown for their crisp, sweet, juicy crunch most varieties take about 80 days to develop densely packed heads.

Common varieties

Ballade
Crispino
Legacy
Lettuce D
Salinas 88 Supreme
Summertime
Sun Devil

Summer Crisp, French Crisp or Batavian

Variety: Cardinale

An intermediate between Crisphead and Looseleaf lettuce, this type tends to be a large lettuce. Most varieties are resistant to bolting and have good flavor. The outer leaves are thick and crisp and can be harvested as a looseleaf until the head starts to form. The heart is crisp, juicy and sweet with a slight nutty flavor. Varieties tend to mature in about 55 to 60 days.

Common varieties

Jack Ice

Oscarde

Reine Des’ glaces

Also:
Anuenue
Loma
Magenta
Nevada
Roger

Butterhead, Boston or Bibb

Variety: Victoria

This is the most popular type of lettuce grown in Europe and one of the finest types. The name comes from the buttery feel and creamy color of the inside leaves. The outer leaves are large and ruffled, often loosely folded, and darker green or brownish in color. Butterhead varieties can be harvested by removing outer leaves or by harvesting the entire head. Butterhead varieties are easier to grow than Crispheads as they are more tolerant of soil and weather conditions. Varieties are also rarely bitter in flavor, are slow bolting, and mature in 55 to 65 days.

Common varieties

Blushed Butter Oak	Carmona	Divina
Emerald Oak	Flashy Butter Oak	Kweik
Pirat	Sanguine Ameliore	Tom Thumb
Victoria	Yugoslavian Red	Also: Brune d’Hiver Butter Crunch Deer Tongue Diamond Gem Ermosa Marvel of Four Seasons Miko Pirat Nancy Optima

Romaine or Cos

Variety: Outredgeous

The names for this type of lettuce are derived from its Mediterranean origin and are interchangeable. “Romaine” is a derivation of Roman, while “Cos” comes from Kos, the Greek island. Romaine-type lettuces are 8 – 10 inches tall, upright in form, with long tightly folded leaves that are spoon shaped with thick midribs. Outer leaves are medium-green in color while inner leaves are greenish-white. Outer leaves can be a bit tough, but the ribs are tender and crunchy. Varieties tend to mature in about 75 days.

Common varieties

Brown Golding	De Morges Braun	Forellenschluss
Hyper Red Rumple	Dark Green Romaine	Trout’s Back
Winter Density	Also: Chaos Mix II, black Chaos Mix II, white Devils Tongue Little Leprechaun Mixed Chaos, black Mixed Chaos, white Nova F3, black Nova F4, black Nova F4, white Phat Merlot, white Redneck F2, black Redneck F2, white Romance Sucrine Valmaine

Looseleaf, Leaf, Cutting or Bunching

Variety: Austrian Greenleaf

These are the easiest kind of lettuces to grow, and they form no heart or head, as the name indicates. They can be harvested leaf by leaf or by the whole plant. Leaves come in a wide variety of shapes and colors including thick, thin, savoyed, flat, red, green, frilled, cut, curled, wavy, crinkly and so on. There are some extremely frilly and decorative European varieties. The leaves are tender, delicate, and mild flavored, and plants are slow bolting throughout the summer. Varieties tend to mature in 30 – 55 days.

Common varieties

Austrian Greenleaf	Bijou	Bronze Arrowhead
Brunia	Cracoviensis	Fine Frilled
Gold Rush	New Red Fire	Oakleaf Redder Ruffled
Oaky Red Splash	Simpson Elite	Also: Merlot Merveille De Mai Perilla Green Perilla Red

References

Rindels S. 1994. Lettuce varieties. Horticulture and Home Pest News. Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Iowa. www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1994/4-6-1994/kinds.html

Wechsler D. 1995. The Lettuces. Salad Gardens Gourmet Greens and Beyond. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York. P 20-29. www.naturalhub.com/grow_vegetables_cultivars_lettuce.htm