Seeking a good 'head' lettuce

rhines81 · February 13, 2016

Something like iceberg, but with more flavor and something that does not bolt too quickly. I already have some great leaf types.

Any suggestions??

KarenO · February 13, 2016

Home grown head lettuce will be vastly better in flavour than grocery store iceberg. If growing head lettuce is new for you, you can likely try anything that you can readily find seed for and the flavour will be delicious compared to the watery hydroponically grown store lettuce. The colour will also be greener. to me greener= more flavour.

If you have grown head lettuce before and found the flavour lacking, perhaps try a butterhead type which has a lot of flavour or any cos or romaine type for a richer more "lettucey" flavour.

KarenO

rhines81 · February 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenO

If you have grown head lettuce before and found the flavour lacking, perhaps try a butterhead type which has a lot of flavour or any cos or romaine type for a richer more "lettucey" flavour.

KarenO

I saw variety called Buttercrunch or something like that and it looked interesting. Is that what you mean by butterhead?
I currently have Little Caesar and Black-seeded Simpson, which were wonderful last year for salads, but was also looking to add a more traditional and tasty head type.

Dutch · February 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenO

Home grown head lettuce will be vastly better in flavour than grocery store iceberg. If growing head lettuce is new for you, you can likely try anything that you can readily find seed for and the flavour will be delicious compared to the watery hydroponically grown store lettuce. The colour will also be greener. to me greener= more flavour.

If you have grown head lettuce before and found the flavour lacking, perhaps try a butterhead type which has a lot of flavour or any cos or romaine type for a richer more "lettucey" flavour.

KarenO

Yep, and you might consider spinach also. Fresh spinach from a garden, in my humble opinion, bests any lettuce for taste.
Dutch

KarenO · February 13, 2016

yes, Buttercrunch is a great variety. butterhead lettuces are different than an iceburg type head lettuce but they do form loose heads. the texture is different than either leaf or head or cos lettuces and the flavour is really good. something different you might like to try.
I really enjoy growing and trying different lettuces. there are so many when you venture outside of the standard varieties.
I start mine and then transplant the seedlings to the garden at the correct spacing so they can grow properly
KarenO

Worth1 · February 13, 2016

I like Romaine the best.
Slightly bitter Romaine hearts are to die for.

Worth

Dark Rumor · February 14, 2016

I always liked this lettuce, it forms a head similar to iceburg.

'Anuenue'

Click to enlarge A sweet green header from Hawaii, of all places. Can you hear the winds sing “ah-new-ee-new-ee” as a rainbow arches over your paradise...? ‘Anuenue’ (rainbow) works as a thick green cut-leaf for salad, or as an easy, heat tolerant, non-bitter, full-heading lettuce for market. Undemanding, mellow heads, bred for sun, heat, and humidity.
https://www.wildgardenseed.com/produ...1c597f5954d723

habitat_gardener · February 14, 2016

Iceberg varieties might be worth trying.

I normally don't eat lettuce (I like kale and arugula a lot more), but I got some "Iceberg lettuce" seeds from someone at a local seed/plant exchange. She was so enthusiastic about it, and said it was nothing like the grocery store variety, that I finally tried it. And I like it! I've been picking it as a leaf lettuce -- outer leaves, I guess. They are dark green with slightly frilly edges and a little crunchy. In the garden, the center leaves are just starting to curl in on themselves, maybe to make a head? Or maybe if I'd left the outer leaves, they would have helped form the head? In any case, I'm enjoying the leaves I pick one at a time.

February 13, 2016	#1
rhines81 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Zone 5A, Poconos Posts: 959	Seeking a good 'head' lettuce Something like iceberg, but with more flavor and something that does not bolt too quickly. I already have some great leaf types. Any suggestions??

February 14, 2016	#7
Dark Rumor Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 287	Anuenue Lettuce I always liked this lettuce, it forms a head similar to iceburg. 'Anuenue' Click to enlarge A sweet green header from Hawaii, of all places. Can you hear the winds sing “ah-new-ee-new-ee” as a rainbow arches over your paradise...? ‘Anuenue’ (rainbow) works as a thick green cut-leaf for salad, or as an easy, heat tolerant, non-bitter, full-heading lettuce for market. Undemanding, mellow heads, bred for sun, heat, and humidity. https://www.wildgardenseed.com/produ...1c597f5954d723

February 13, 2016	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Home grown head lettuce will be vastly better in flavour than grocery store iceberg. If growing head lettuce is new for you, you can likely try anything that you can readily find seed for and the flavour will be delicious compared to the watery hydroponically grown store lettuce. The colour will also be greener. to me greener= more flavour. If you have grown head lettuce before and found the flavour lacking, perhaps try a butterhead type which has a lot of flavour or any cos or romaine type for a richer more "lettucey" flavour. KarenO

February 13, 2016	#6
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I like Romaine the best. Slightly bitter Romaine hearts are to die for. Worth

February 14, 2016	#8
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	Iceberg varieties might be worth trying. I normally don't eat lettuce (I like kale and arugula a lot more), but I got some "Iceberg lettuce" seeds from someone at a local seed/plant exchange. She was so enthusiastic about it, and said it was nothing like the grocery store variety, that I finally tried it. And I like it! I've been picking it as a leaf lettuce -- outer leaves, I guess. They are dark green with slightly frilly edges and a little crunchy. In the garden, the center leaves are just starting to curl in on themselves, maybe to make a head? Or maybe if I'd left the outer leaves, they would have helped form the head? In any case, I'm enjoying the leaves I pick one at a time.