Lettuce Types

There are many types of lettuce and many varieties within the basic types. These described below are only some of the more common types

Iceberg

Also known as the crisphead or caggage lettuce, this is a very popular lettuce in the USA, UK and Australia. It has a white, crisp densely packed heart. It should be light green and have a springy firm feel. Varieties include "Great Lakes", "Mission" and "Ithica".

A great lettuce if you plan to use the whole lettuce all at once. The leaves soon lose their crispness in the frig.

Butterhead

 

A delicious lettuce with a tender buttery taste. It has an open loose leaf head. A very popular salad lettuce in the USA and UK.

Common varieties include "Nancy" and "Buttercrunch".

Cos

This hardy lettuce, originating from the Mediterranean island of Cos, also known as Romaine lettuce, has tall light green leaves about 9" tall with pointy tips and a pronounced ribbed structure.

The cos lettuce should have a lovely crunchy texture and a light sweet flavour. Varieties include the "Paris Island" and "Valmaine"

Loose Leaf

Or just "leaf" lettuce. These lettuces do not form heads, rather a mass of loose leafs which can be picked individually as required. They are represented by a great variety of leaves, thick leaves, thin leaves, flat or curled, red or green. Typical varieties include "Black Seeded Simpson", Royal Oak Leaf", "Red Sails", "Bronze Leaf".

The foliage of the leaf lettuce can be an attractive addition to the vegetable garden and the flavour very pleasant.