ABC Organic Gardener Magazine latest issue magazine cover.
new issue on salenow!
Celtuce looks like cos lettuce growing on a long stem.

Celtuce is grown predominantly for its thick stem.

Picture: Connie Lao

Grow: celtuce

Story by

Celtuce looks like cos lettuce on a long stem – add it to your garden for a tasty addition to your menu.

Celtuce
Lactuca sativa var. angustana

Looking for a new vegie to add to your patch this autumn? Grow celtuce, a popular, ancient variety of lettuce from southern China, that looks like cos lettuce growing on a long stem.

How to grow

Like all other lettuces, celtuce is an annual that is easy to grow across Australia and grows best through the cooler months of the year. Plants start off growing only leaves, before putting energy into growing the tall, prized stem. Harvest when stems have thickened up, but before plants start to bolt. For a continual harvest, sow a new batch every 4–6 weeks.

Uses

While the entire plant is edible, celtuce is grown predominantly for its thick stem that tastes like a mix of broccoli and cucumber. It’s slightly sweet in flavour, has a crunchy texture and hint of nuttiness. Celtuce stems are peeled before eating and can be sliced and eaten raw or lightly cooked. Young leaves can be used in salads; older leaves in stir-fries.

For more expert growing tips for the cooler seasons, get a copy of our Early Winter 2025 issue (OG 157), available here.

The cover of the Early Winter 2025 issue of ABC Organic Gardener magazine features a Porcelian Belgian D'Uccle chicken.
The Early Winter 2025 issue of ABC Organic Gardener features a Porcelian Belgian D’Uccle chicken.

Keywords:

Other articles from ‘What to plant’

View all articles
Strawberries hanging from a pot.
What to plant

Taste the organic strawberry difference

A tasty strawberry harvest can be yours with the tips featured in our story explaining the best preparation for your crop and our expert growing advice.

You can construct a teepee to support peas with bamboo or sticks.
What to plant

Grow more peas, please

Peas need a fair amount of sunlight for a good harvest, and following these ideas for growing up can give them what they need.

Pumpkin seeds saved and dried can be eaten as a snack.
What to plant

Saving seeds: pumpkins

Pumpkin seeds are not just a tasty snack, if you store them properly you will have a supply of seeds to plant for up to four years.

Australian heirloom jarrahdale piled together after harvest.
What to plant

Grow: pumpkins

Homegrown pumpkins are an urban commodity – you can swap them with the neighbours for fresh eggs or a handful of lemons, and with a bit of TLC, they’ll store for months.