Celtuce

Celtuce is an unusual vegetable, grown for its thin stem and green leaves. The stem has a celery like flavour but milder and is useful in stir fries, stews, grated raw in salads or added to soups.

Young tender leaves can be eaten raw in salads a little like lettuce. Older leaves however are best treated like spinach, lightly steamed and served with a little butter or added to stir fries, soups, omelettes and quiches etc.

Celtuce prefers to grow over the cooler months of spring and autumn rather than the hot dry summer months. It is an easy and versatile crop to grow if the soil is moisture retentive and the vegetable is grown over the cooler months.

It is ideal for the gardener who is looking to grow something a little different, a vegetable that does not take up a lot of room or time to look after.