Crisphead Lettuce: Beautiful, crunchy salad greens right from the garden are an almost year-round treat in some regions. Crisphead lettuce varieties offer greens with a nice, toothy snap and sweet flavor that complements any dressing. What is crisphead lettuce? You may recognize crisphead lettuce plants as the commonly sold iceberg lettuce found in your produce market. Versatile and easy to grow with a little know how.

Crisphead lettuce is mostly grown in cooler, northern climates. It needs a bit more maintenance than the loose-leaf varieties and has a characteristic flavor and texture not found in those types. They bolt in summer but can be started in fall or early spring, producing at least two seasons of produce. They also need a longer growing period as compared to the upright or loose-leaf varieties. Some crisphead lettuce info will help you navigate this more picky but definitely worth growing head lettuce.

Crisphead, or iceberg, is a rounded, compact lettuce with overlapping leaves. The interior leaves are paler and sweet, while the exterior, greener leaves are more malleable and useful for lettuce wraps. The plants need a long, cool season to develop the dense heads. In areas without such weather, they should be started indoors and transplanted outside while temperatures are still cool. Plants growing in summer will generally bolt and get bitter. Crisphead lettuce plants are favorites of slugs and snails as well as other pests and need constant vigilance to prevent leaf damage.

For more information on how to grow crisphead lettuce click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Crisphead Lettuce link.

 

Buttercrunch Lettuce: If you like lettuce wraps, then you’re familiar with butterhead types of lettuce. Butterhead lettuce, like most lettuce, does not do well with severe temperatures, so if you are in a warmer climate, you may have been reluctant to grow this green veggie. If that’s the case, then you’ve never tried growing Buttercrunch lettuce.

The following Buttercrunch plant info discusses how to grow lettuce ‘Buttercrunch’ and its care. What is Buttercrunch Lettuce? Butterhead lettuces are sought after for their “buttery” flavor and velvety texture. The small, loosely formed heads yield leaves that are at once delicate and yet strong enough to roll into lettuce wraps. Butterhead lettuce has soft, green, slightly curled leaves wrapped around a loose inner head of blanched, sweet-flavored, interior leaves.

The butterhead lettuce ‘Buttercrunch’ has the above qualities with the added advantage of being slightly more tolerant of heat. As mentioned, Butterhead lettuce is more resistant to heat, thus bolting less than other butterhead lettuces. It stays mild long after others become bitter. Buttercrunch was developed by George Raleigh of Cornell University and is an All-American Selection winner for 1963. It was the gold standard for butterhead lettuce for years.

For more information on how to grow buttercrunch lettuce click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Buttercrunch Lettuce link.

 

Butter Bibb Lettuce: Growing your own lettuce is a quick and easy undertaking in the home garden. Thriving in the cool season temperatures of early spring and fall, homegrown lettuce is sure to add color and texture to salads and other dishes. For many growers, choosing which variety of lettuce to grow each season may seem like quite the task. With so many options, there are lettuce cultivars that suit a wide range of growing conditions.

One lettuce specifically, butter lettuce, has earned its place in the garden as a long-time favorite of growers. Read on to learn more about Butter Bibb lettuce plants. What is Butter Lettuce? Originating in Kentucky, butter lettuce (also known simply as ‘Bibb’) is a variety of crisp lettuce that forms a loose head as it grows.

Due to its characteristic tenderness, butter lettuce is frequently used to add subtle flavor to salads, sandwiches, wraps, and more. Though it can be stored in the refrigerator for a short period of time, leaves of this lettuce are very delicate and more prone to wilt than some other lettuce cultivars.

For more information on how to grow butter bibb lettuce click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Butter Bibb Lettuce link.

 

Pirat Red Butterhead Lettuce: As a cool weather vegetable, spring or fall is a great time to grow lettuce. Butter lettuces are tasty, sweet, and tender, and also easy to grow. Consider the heirloom variety Pirat for your cool-season garden. It’s easy to grow with good disease resistance and matures quickly in just 50 days.

You can grow Pirat to use the baby leaves and for the mature heads. What is Pirat Butterhead Lettuce? Butterhead, or butter, lettuces include varieties that form looser heads, that have a sweeter flavor with less bitterness, and that have a more delicate texture than other lettuce varieties. In the grocery store, you’ll see these lettuces labeled as butter lettuce, Boston lettuce, or Bibb lettuce, but there are many other types, including the Pirat variety.

Pirat lettuce plants are heirlooms that originated in Germany, and they have a unique coloration. Most butter lettuces are bright green, but this type is often called Pirat butter lettuce because it has a red blush on the edges of the leaves. The flavor and texture of Pirat is superior. The leaves are tender and the flavor is sweet. As you thin plants, you can use leaves as baby greens, but the fully mature leaves are nearly as delicate and gently flavored ones.

For more information on how to grow pirat red butterhead lettuce click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Pirat Red Butterhead Lettuce link.

 

Tom Thumb Lettuce has long been one of the most common staples in the vegetable garden. In addition to the quality taste when picked fresh, lettuce is also a great option for first-time growers or for those wishing to grow their own produce without access to adequate garden space. The combination of its quick growth habit, compact size, and ability to grow in a wide range of conditions makes lettuce an easy choice.

Some varieties, such as Tom Thumb, are specifically suited for growth in containers, grow bags, and raised beds, making even more great options for small space gardeners. Tom Thumb Lettuce Facts Tom Thumb lettuce plants are a unique variety of butterhead or bibb lettuce. These plants produce crisp buttery leaves which form a loose head. Reaching maturity in around 45 days, the most unique characteristic of these plants is their diminutive size. Small 4 to 5 inch (10 to 15 cm.) plants are perfect for a wide range of garden applications, including its use as a single serving’ salad.

Growing lettuce, Tom Thumb specifically, is quite the popular choice among gardeners for container plantings, as well as for interplanting it with various other cool season crops.

For more information on how to grow Tom's thumb lettuce click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Tom's Thumb Lettuce link.

 

Yugoslavian Red Lettuce is among the first crops to be planted early in the growing season, when it comes to lettuce, home gardeners have nearly unlimited options from which to choose. Hybrid and open-pollinated varieties offer growers a multitude of sizes, textures, and colors. Not only do the succulent homegrown lettuce leaves far surpass their grocery store counterparts in taste but varieties such as ‘Yugoslavian Red’ can delight growers with a diversity filled garden.

What is Yugoslavian Red Lettuce? Yugoslavian Red lettuce is a variety of crisp butterhead (or Bibb) lettuce. Butterhead lettuces are known for their loosely formed heads. Like most lettuce, Yugoslavian Red thrives when temperatures are cool in late fall and early spring.

Reaching 10 to 12 inches (25-31 cm.) at maturity, this lettuce is prized for its beautiful green-yellow color with light red-purple blushing. Popular for its mild and buttery taste, Yugoslavian Red lettuce plants are an excellent choice for containers, as well as for direct seedings in the garden.

For more information on how to grow Yugoslavian red lettuce click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Yugoslavian Red Lettuce link.

 

Romaine Lettuce: If you enjoy the taste of romaine or cos lettuce, you’re not alone. Humans have been planting romaine lettuce for nearly 5,000 years. Romaine is a popular sandwich topping and the lettuce of choice in Caesar salad recipes. This nutrient-rich vegetable is an excellent source of minerals and antioxidants, yet still boasts an amazingly low 10 calories per cup of lettuce.

To keep up with consumer demand, commercial growers have dedicated thousands of acres each year to growing romaine lettuce. Unfortunately, it’s estimated green leafy vegetables account for 20% of food-borne illness. This has resulted in numerous recalls of romaine lettuce in the past decade and, for many families, eliminated salad from the Thanksgiving menu in 2018. Many gardeners find growing romaine lettuce at home to be a safer alternative.

For more information on how to grow romaine lettuce click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Romaine Lettuce link.

 

Parris Island Romaine Lettuce: In late winter, as we thumb through seed catalogs anxiously awaiting the next gardening season, it can be tempting to buy seeds of every vegetable variety that we haven’t tried growing yet. As gardeners, we know that just one tiny, inexpensive seed can soon become a monstrous plant, producing more fruit than we can even eat and most of us only have feet to work with in the garden, not acres.

While some plants take up a lot of room in the garden, lettuce takes very little space and can be grown in the cool temperatures of spring, fall, and even winter in some regions when very few other garden veggies are growing. You can also plant different varieties of lettuce in succession for a longer season of harvesting fresh leaves and heads. One excellent lettuce to try in the garden for a long harvest is Parris Island cos lettuce.  Parris Island Lettuce Info Named after Parris Island, a small island off the eastern seaboard in South Carolina, Parris Island lettuce was first introduced in 1952. Today, it is celebrated as a reliable heirloom lettuce and is a favorite romaine lettuce (also called cos) in the southeastern U.S. where it can be grown in fall, winter, and spring.

It can be slow to bolt in the heat of summer if given a little afternoon shade and daily irrigation. Not only does it offer a long growing season, Parris Island cos lettuce also reportedly has the highest nutritional values of any lettuce. Parris Island lettuce is a romaine variety with dark green leaves and a cream to white heart. It forms vase-shaped heads which can grow up to 12 inches (31 cm.) tall. However, its outer leaves are usually harvested as needed for garden fresh salads or a sweet, crisp addition to sandwiches, rather than the whole head being harvested at once. In addition to its long season and exceptional nutrition values, Parris Island is resistant to lettuce mosaic virus and tipburn.

For more information on how to grow Parris Island romaine lettuce click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Parris Island Romaine Lettuce link.

 

Loose-Leaf Lettuce:  Many first-time gardeners think that once the loose-leaf lettuce is picked, that’s it. That’s because they tend to think that the entire head of lettuce should be dug out when harvesting leaf lettuce. Not so my friends. Picking loose-leaf lettuce with the “cut and come again” method will extend the growing period and provide you with greens well into the summer months. Read on to find out how to harvest leaf lettuce using this method. When to Pick Leaf Lettuce Lettuce is a cool-weather crop and, although it needs sun, is one of the few crops that will do well in partial shade. Unlike lettuces such as iceberg, loose-leaf lettuce doesn’t form a head but, instead, loose leaves. This means that while the entire head of iceberg is harvested, picking loose-leaf lettuce is just that – picking leaves.  So when to pick leaf lettuce? Loose-leaf lettuce harvest can begin anytime the leaves have formed but prior to the formation of a seed stalk.

For more information on how to grow loose-leaf lettuce click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Loose-Leaf Lettuce link.

 

Deer Tongue Lettuce: There are so many lettuce varieties available to gardeners, it can get a little overwhelming. All those leaves can start to look the same, and picking the right seeds to plant can start to seem impossible. Reading this article will help illuminate at least one of those varieties. Keep reading to learn more about growing Emerald Oak lettuce. 

What is Emerald Oak lettuce? This cultivar is a cross between two other lettuce varieties: Blushed Butter Oak and Deer Tongue. It was originally developed in 2003 by Frank and Karen Morton, owners of Wild Garden Seed, who over the years have bred countless new kinds of greens.  It is apparently a favorite on the Morton farm. The lettuce grows in dense, compact heads of rounded leaves that are a shade of bright green you could easily describe as “emerald.” It has juicy, buttery heads that are known for their flavor. It can be harvested young for baby salad greens, or it can be grown to maturity and harvested all at once for its tasty outer leaves and pleasant, tightly packed hearts. It is especially resistant to tipburn, yet another plus.
 

For more information on how to grow deer tongue lettuce click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Deer Tongue Lettuce link.

Savoy Cabbage: Most of us are familiar with green cabbage, if only for its association with coleslaw, a popular side dish at BBQs and with fish and chips. I, for one, am not a huge fan of cabbage. Maybe it’s the unappetizing smell when cooked or the slightly rubbery texture. If you, like myself, dislike cabbage as a general rule, have I got a cabbage for you – savoy cabbage. What is savoy cabbage and how does savoy cabbage vs. green cabbage stack up? Let’s find out!

What is Savoy Cabbage? Savoy cabbage belongs in the Brassica genus along with broccoli and Brussels sprouts. This low calorie veggie is used both fresh and cooked and is high in potassium and other minerals and vitamins A, K and C.  The most obvious difference between common green cabbage and savoy is its appearance. It has multi-hued shades of green foliage that is typically tighter at the center, gradually unfurling to reveal curly, puckered leaves. The center of the cabbage looks a bit brain-like with raised veins running throughout.

Although the leaves look like they might be tough, the wonderful appeal of savoy leaves is that they are remarkably tender even when raw. This makes them perfect for use in fresh salads, as vegetable wraps or as a bed for fish, rice and other entrees. And they make even tastier coleslaw than their green cousin. The leaves are milder and sweeter than those of green cabbage. Intrigued? Then I bet you are wondering how to grow savoy cabbage.

For more information on how to grow savoy cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Savoy Cabbage link.

 

Farao Cabbage is a great cool season vegetable to grow in spring or fall, or even both for two harvests per year. The Farao hybrid variety is a green, early ballhead cabbage with a mild, yet delicious flavor. About Farao Hybrid Cabbage Farao is a hybrid green cabbage of the ballhead form, meaning it forms a tight head of dense leaves. The leaves are a pretty, deep green and the heads grow to about 3 or 4 pounds (1-2 kg.).

In addition to the compact head, Farao grows a generous layer of looser, protective outer leaves.  The flavor of Farao cabbage plants is mild and peppery. The leaves are thin and tender. This is a great cabbage for stir fries but will also hold up to pickling, sauerkraut, and roasting as well. You can even eat it raw and fresh if you would like.

For more information on how to grow farao cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Farao Cabbage link.

 

Tiara Cabbage: There is no doubt that greens such as lettuce and spinach are commonly planted by growers wishing to extend their spring and fall seasons. However, many may overlook larger members of the Brassica family, like cabbage. Though it is true that some varieties of cabbage can require a bit of space in the garden, other smaller cultivars are ideal for home gardens and raised vegetable beds. The Tiara cabbage variety is perfect for anyone wishing to enjoy homegrown cabbages without large growing spaces.

For more information on how to grow tiara cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Tiara Cabbage link.

 

Tendersweet Cabbage: What is Tendersweet cabbage? As the name suggests, plants of this cabbage variety produce tender, sweet, thin leaves that are perfect for stir-fries or coleslaw. Like all members of this family, Tendersweet cabbage can handle frost but will suffer in hot weather. When it comes to growing Tendersweet cabbage, it’s best to get started in early spring. However, you can also grow a crop for fall harvest in milder climates.

For more information on how to grow tendersweet cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Tiara Tendersweet Cabbage link.

 

Charleston Wakefield Cabbage: If you’re looking for a variety of heirloom cabbage plants, you might want to consider growing Charleston Wakefield. Although these heat-tolerant cabbages can be grown in almost any climate, Charleston Wakefield cabbage was developed for southern United States gardens. What is Charleston Wakefield Cabbage? This variety of heirloom cabbage was developed in the 1800s on Long Island, New York and sold to F. W. Bolgiano seed company.

Charleston Wakefield cabbages produce large, dark green, cone-shaped heads. At maturity, the heads average 4 to 6 lbs. (2 to 3 kg.), the largest of the Wakefield varieties. Charleston Wakefield cabbage is a fast-growing variety that matures in as little as 70 days. After harvest, this variety of cabbage stores well.

For more information on how to grow Charleston Wakefield cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Charleston Wakefield Cabbage link.

 

Red cabbage is colorful and jazzes up salads and other dishes, but it also has unique nutritional value thanks to its deep purple color. A great hybrid variety to try is the Integro red cabbage. This medium sized cabbage has a stunning color, good flavor, and is great for eating fresh.  About the Integro Cabbage Variety Integro is a hybrid variety of red, ballhead cabbage. Ballhead varieties are the classic shapes you think of when imagining cabbage – compact, round balls of tightly packed leaves.

This is the most common type of cabbage and all ballheads are great for eating fresh, pickling, making sauerkraut, sautéing, and roasting.  Integro cabbage plants are medium in size, with heads that grow to about 3 or 4 pounds (around 2 kg.) and 5 to 7 inches (13-18 cm.) high and wide. The color is a deep purple red with a silvery sheen. The leaves are thick and shiny. Integro’s flavor is described as sweeter than average.

For more information on how to grow red cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Red Cabbage link.

 

Ruby Perfection Cabbage: Did you know the color red stimulates the appetite? Adding red cabbage to coleslaw or salad makes those dishes more appealing. Some colorful dishes, like braised red cabbage with apples, are considered a traditional holiday side dish. Additionally, red cabbage contains anthocyanins and phenolics which benefit your memory, immune system, and urinary tract.

For gardeners, growing Ruby Perfection cabbage is the perfect opportunity to not only add color to the dinner table but also increase the variety of vegetables growing in the garden. When selecting a red cabbage to grow, the Ruby Perfection variety is the one of choice!

What is Ruby Perfection Red Cabbage? Ruby Perfection red cabbage is a mid to late season, medium-sized variety of hybrid cabbage. Ruby Perfection plants produce firm 4- to 6-pound (2 to 2.5 kg.) heads in a rich, deep red color. They have good storage potential and can often last well into late winter or early spring when stored in a root cellar. Ruby Perfection matures 80 days after transplanting. In addition to being a colorful highlight for the dinner table, red cabbage has an oddly unconventional use for the home gardener. The anthocyanins in red cabbage act as a pH indicator.

Gardeners can use Ruby Perfection red cabbage to test the pH level of their garden soil or to perform a home-based STEM experiment with the kids. The indicator colors range from reddish-pink for acidic solutions to greenish-yellow for basic ones. Ruby Perfection cabbage seeds can also be grown as microgreens. The Ruby Perfection variety adds a touch of color and light cabbage flavor to these trendy vegetable mixes. Microgreens are considered more nutrient-rich than mature vegetables. Growing Ruby Perfection as microgreens has an added nutritional benefit since red cabbage contains higher levels of vitamin C than green varieties. 

For more information on how to grow ruby perfection cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Ruby Perfection Cabbage link.

 

Omero Red Cabbage is slow to bolt in the summer garden. This vibrant purple head can mature last in spring and go in the ground earlier in late summer. The inside of the head is deep purple to burgundy with streaks of white, attractive when making slaw. Although it appears purple in color to our untrained eye, purple cabbage, like Omero, is classified as a red cabbage.

For more information on how to grow Omero red cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Omero Red Cabbage link.

 

Deadon Cabbage variety is a striking, late season savoy with an excellent flavor. Like other cabbages, this is a cold season vegetable. It will get even sweeter if you let a frost hit it before harvesting. Deadon cabbage growing is easy and will provide you with a tasty, versatile cabbage for fall and early winter harvest. Deadon Cabbage Variety The Deadon cabbage variety is really more of a partial savoy. It is similar to the cultivar known as January King, with leaves that are not as crinkly as a savoy but not as smooth as a ball head variety. 

Like savoy types, Deadon leaves are tender and more delicate than they appear. They are easier to eat raw than the smooth, thick leaves of a ball head cabbage and have a lovely sweet flavor. You can easily enjoy the leaves fresh in a salad, but they also stand up to being pickled in sauerkraut, stir fried, or roasted. The color of Deadon savoy cabbage is also unique. It grows as a striking purplish magenta color. As it unfurls its outer leaves, a lime green head reveals itself. This is a great eating cabbage but can be decorative as well. 

For more information on how to grow deadon cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Deadon Cabbage link.

 

Brunswick Cabbage: The Brunswick cabbage variety is a great choice for autumn planting, as it flourishes in cooler temperatures of fall and winter. First imported to the U.S. in 1824, Brunswick cabbage history says all cole crops were exported under the Brunswick name at that time. The German heirloom, a large drumhead, is becoming rare as winter cabbage growing decreases. For many years it was a favorite for making sauerkraut. It is a shame for this specimen to face extinction. Let’s learn more about growing this cabbage plant.

For more information on how to grow brunswick cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Brunswick Cabbage link.

 

Earliana Cabbage plants develop much sooner than most varieties, ripening in about 60 days. The cabbages are very attractive, deep green, with a round, compact shape. Growing Earliana cabbage isn’t difficult. Just remember that cabbage is a cool-weather vegetable. It can tolerate frost but is likely to bolt (go to seed) when temperatures rise above 80 F. (27 C.). Get started as early in spring as possible so you can harvest the cabbages before the peak of summer. If you live in a mild climate, you can grow a second crop in late summer for harvest in winter or spring. Read on for more Earliana cabbage info, and learn about growing this sweet, mild cabbage in your own garden.

For more information on how to grow earliana cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Earliana Cabbage link.
 

Golden Acre Cabbage: For many home gardeners, growing cabbage is an excellent way to extend the gardening season. Whether grown in early spring or late into fall, cold tolerant cabbages thrive in cooler temperatures. Ranging in size, texture, and color, different open pollinated varieties of cabbage allow growers to choose the plants which best suit their garden and their growing zone. ‘Golden Acre’ is prized for its compact size and early maturity in the garden.

For more information on how to grow golden acre cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Golden Acre Cabbage link.

 

January King Cabbage: If you want to plant vegetables that survive the winter chill, take a lingering look at January King winter cabbage. This beautiful semi-savoy cabbage has been a garden classic for hundreds of years in England and is a favorite in this country as well. January King cabbage plants survive winter’s worst, including hard freezes and snowfall, to provide purple cabbage heads in January. Read on for information on growing January King and tips for cabbage uses. 

January King Winter Cabbage When you are growing January King cabbage plants, you are growing the best cabbage in its class. These vigorous heirloom plants produce gorgeous cabbage heads with pale green inner leaves and outer leaves in deep purple tinged slightly with green. The cabbages weigh around 3 to 5 pounds (1-2 kg.) and are well filled, slightly flattened globes. Expect a harvest in January or February. In some years, the harvest extends into March. Fans call these plants indestructible because the cabbages survive anything winter can throw at them. They sail through temperatures approaching zero, don’t blink at a hard freeze, and offer a delightfully strong cabbage flavor.

For more information on how to grow January king cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's January King Cabbage link.

 

Late Flat Dutch Cabbage: Do you like a big, firm cabbage with excellent flavor? Try growing Late Flat Dutch cabbage. This vegetable will feed a large family. Late Flat Dutch cabbage plants are easy to grow, provided you have a way to keep the snails and slugs away from the leaves. Keep reading to learn how to plant Late Flat Dutch cabbage, a vegetable that keeps for a long time and delivers quality and quantity. About Late Flat Dutch Cabbage Plants Cabbage is such a versatile vegetable. It is equally good in salads, stews, or sautéed.

Late Flat Dutch cabbage seeds germinate easily and the resulting heads store for weeks. This open pollinated heirloom variety requires 100 days from seed to head and can be planted for an early summer or late fall harvest.  This large cabbage variety has bluish green leaves and flattened heads with a creamy light green interior. The heads are monsters that can achieve up to 15 pounds (7 kg.) but taste a bit sweeter if harvested when smaller. The earliest recording of this cabbage type was in 1840 in the Netherlands. However, it was German settlers that brought Late Flat Dutch cabbage seeds with them to America where it became a popular variety. The plants are hardy to USDA zones 3 through 9, but young plants can suffer if they experience freezes.

For more information on how to grow late flat Dutch cabbage click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Late Flat Dutch Cabbage link.