Romaine lettuceLactuca sativa var. longifolia

Romaine lettuce

Romaine lettuces

1. Lactuca sativa L. var. romana
2. Lactuca sativa L. convar. romana

1. Cos lettuce

1. Roman lettuce

1. Kochsalat

1. Little Gem

1. Romain lettuce

1. NameLattich

   Languagede

   Shared with

   1. Lactuca virosa

   Clarification

   In culinary contexts usually Romaine, botanically the genus Lactuca.

1. lettuce
2. salad greens
3. summer lettuce

1. Tracheophyta
2. Angiospermae
3. Eudicotyledoneae
4. Asterids

Daisy family

1. Lactuca sativa var. capitata
2. Cichorium endivia

1. leaves
2. stalk

Romaine lettuce, also known as Cos lettuce, is characterized by its upright, sturdy heads and crisp, flavorful leaf ribs. It is hardier than butterhead lettuce and is suitable both for fresh salads and for cooked dishes.

Appreciated as far back as ancient Egypt, this form of garden lettuce spread across the Mediterranean to Europe. Its name 'Romaine' points to its popularity in ancient Roman cuisine.

1. Taskplanting

   Label

   Transplanting

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 4
   2. 5

   Conditionfrost_free_soil

   Estimated effortmedium

   Notes

   Do not plant too deep to avoid rot.

Sunny to partial shade

In midsummer, a semi-shaded spot is beneficial to prevent bolting.

Humus-rich, loose, deep

Good water retention capacity is essential.

Regularly, never let the soil dry out completely

Water directly at the base, keep leaves dry

Addition of compost before planting is usually sufficient

Good neighbors: strawberries, carrots, radishes. Bad neighbors: parsley, celery.

1. Solanum lycopersicum
2. Cucumis sativus
3. Pisum sativum

1. Daucus carota
2. Allium cepa
3. Brassica oleracea

Do not grow after other Asteraceae to minimize disease pressure.

1. Slugs
2. Aphids
3. Root aphid

1. Powdery & Downy mildew
2. Grey mould
3. Soil-borne fungi

1. Wide spacing for good ventilation.
2. Morning watering directly at the root.
3. Choose resistant varieties.

Regularly check leaf undersides for pests; watch for heart rot.

1. Slugbremia-lactucae

   Severityhigh

   Conditions

   1. High humidity
   2. Cool nights
   3. Prolonged leaf wetness

   Affected parts

   1. Leaves

   Prevention

   1. Resistant varieties
   2. Ventilation in the greenhouse

   Organic control

   1. Horsetail extract
   2. Removal of infected plants

1. Symptom

   Sudden wilting despite moist soil

   Possible causes

   1. sclerotinia_minor
   2. root_pests

   First checks

   1. Check root collar for rot
   2. Examine roots for feeding marks

Lack of water is often confused with root rot.

1. Germination
2. Leaf development
3. Rosette formation
4. Head formation
5. Bolting (Flowering phase)
6. Seed ripening

The vegetative phase until head formation takes 60 to 90 days depending on variety and weather.

July to September (only when bolting)

Yellow

Flower heads in panicles

1. Cutting the whole head
2. Harvesting individual outer leaves (cut-and-come-again method)

Early morning when the leaves are crispest.

Once for heading types; continuous when used as leaf lettuce.

1. Head is firm and well-filled
2. Reached variety-specific size
3. Before the stalk elongates (start of bolting)

Remove wilted outer leaves and briefly dip in cold water to maintain freshness.

1. Refrigerator (crisper drawer)
2. Wrapping in a damp cloth

0-2°C with very high humidity.

Short-term storage

1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator

1. Fresh consumption
2. Braising (as cooked lettuce)

1. Salads
2. Wraps
3. Grilling
4. Soups

Robust, slightly bitter note, very crunchy texture.

The thick leaf ribs are particularly juicy. In Italy, it is often served braised or grilled.

1. Leaves
2. Tender inner stalk

1. Roots
2. Old, woody stems of seed-bearing plants

Non-toxic. Can accumulate nitrate if over-fertilized.

Excellent and the most common form of consumption.

Easy to medium

Wait until the seed heads look white and fluffy (similar to dandelions).

Rub seeds from the pappus and separate from chaff using winnowing.

Cross-pollination with wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) or other lettuce varieties possible.

Romaine lettuce is an annual herbaceous plant; woody structures or rootstocks are botanically not applicable.

As a crop harvested before flowering, it offers little food for insects. However, plants left to seed attract hoverflies and wild bees.

1. Avoid midday sun when sowing in midsummer.
2. Harvest in the morning for maximum crispness.

Time for indoor pre-culture on the windowsill.

Water plenty and watch out for slugs.

Enjoy the last heads before the frost.