Lactuca sativa var. longifolia
Batavian lettuce, also referred to as summer season crisp, is the little veggie that might.
It could possibly tolerate warmth higher than many different lettuce varieties but it surely’s nonetheless hardy in opposition to frost.
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It may be harvested as a microgreen, child leaf, cut-and-come-again kind, or you’ll be able to watch for the heads to mature. Oh, and did we point out that it’s extra illness resistant than most different lettuces?
There’s lots to like.
Like different lettuce varieties, it’s straightforward to develop and fast to mature, so that you’ll be chowing down on the crisp, candy leaves very quickly flat.
Need to study extra about these improbable greens? I completely get it. They’re great!
Right here’s every part you’ll be able to count on to find out about on this information, coming proper up:
For a time, Batavian lettuce was far and away the most well-liked kind within the US.
It’s time these dietary powerhouses made a comeback. However earlier than we fill the bottom with summer season crisps, let’s chat a bit about the place they got here from.
Cultivation and Historical past
Batavian (or Batavia) lettuce is a semi-heading kind that’s someplace in between iceberg and romaine when it comes to texture and taste.
It’s also referred to as summer season crisp or French lettuce. Whereas it’s generally a complete thriller the place crops get their names, the widespread names “Batavian” and “French” reveal the place this plant was initially bred.
Lactuca plant species originated within the Mediterranean area, the place they had been initially thought of a weed, and unfold throughout the planet from there.
The primary proof of cultivation goes method again to historical Egypt, 6,000 years in the past.
Quick ahead, and summer season crisp varieties come from the areas of Europe at the moment referred to as northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
This kind emerged someday within the 1600s. As we speak, there are each European and American Batavians.
There are six varieties of L. sativa crops: butterhead, crisphead, Latin, leaf, romaine, and stem lettuces.
Batavian is a crisphead kind, and once we say it’s semi-heading, that’s only a unfastened time period for a way tight the heads are.
Some lettuces develop tightly packed, virtually like cabbage. Others are completely unfastened, like arugula. Crispheads are someplace in between the 2.
Within the early 1900s, American Batavian cultivars had been in vogue, with ‘Hanson’ and ‘New York’ being two of the most well-liked cultivars on the planet. The perennially fashionable iceberg emerged from Batavians in 1894, bred by W. Atlee Burpee & Co.
Don’t confuse this selection with Cichorium endivia, which is usually known as Batavian escarole or endive.
Propagation
There are two methods to propagate this plant: purchase begins or sow seeds. Lettuce is simple to develop from seed, however the primary cause you would possibly choose to purchase seedlings is to save lots of time.
From Seed
Begin your seeds instantly within the floor outdoor after the final predicted frost date.
If you happen to don’t normally see about 50 to 80 days of climate underneath 70°F within the spring, you can begin the seeds slightly earlier than the final frost date and they are going to be nice.
These germinate finest in soil temperatures round 40°F, however a quick frost received’t harm them.
You can even begin seeds within the fall, about 50 to 80 days earlier than the primary predicted frost date.
Earlier than you plant, loosen up your soil down about six inches and work in some well-rotted compost if it’s good to enhance drainage or water retention.
Then poke holes a couple of quarter-inch deep into the soil spaced six to 12 inches aside, utilizing your finger or a pencil. Place a seed in every gap.
If you happen to’d reasonably, you can too broadcast the seeds over the soil and flippantly press them down. You’ll have to you’ll want to skinny the seedlings out as soon as they begin popping up in per week or two.
Sprinkle water onto the soil so that you don’t disturb the seeds, and hold the soil moist as you watch for them to germinate.
From Seedlings
Batavian lettuce is extraordinarily fashionable and you may all the time discover at the least one or two cultivars at nurseries within the spring.
To plant begins, put together the soil by loosening it up down to 6 inches and dealing in some compost, if mandatory, to enhance drainage and water retention.
Dig a gap the identical measurement because the rising container and gently take away the seedling from its pot.
Place it within the gap and agency the soil up round it, taking care to maintain the plant on the similar depth it was within the rising container.
Seedlings ought to be planted six to 12 inches aside, relying on their predicted mature measurement.
Water the soil properly.
Develop
Since these crops had been bred in a number of the decidedly cooler and wetter areas of Europe, that offers us a superb information to what sort of situations these greens want.
Anybody can develop these crops, however you’ll have to adapt relying on the kind of local weather you reside in.
You want at the least seven weeks for the heads to mature, so so long as you have got about 50 to 80 days underneath about 70°F, you’ll be able to develop these crops.
Some cultivars are extra warmth tolerant and received’t bolt till temperatures begin reaching the mid-80s.
On the opposite finish of the dimensions, these crops can tolerate a quick heavy frost and temperatures within the 20s, which is why they’re fashionable as a winter crop in temperate areas.
In addition they make a pleasant winter crop in heat areas.
Batavian lettuce does finest in well-draining, unfastened, wealthy soil that retains water properly. It must have a barely acidic pH of round 6.0 to six.5.
Plant your lettuce in a spot that receives full solar. Much less ideally, you can too develop it in partial solar.
Preserve the soil moist as these crops develop. As a result of they’ve shallow roots, you need to add water as quickly because the floor of the soil feels dry to the contact.
There’s no have to fertilize or pinch the leaves, however you’ll want to hold weeds properly away. These uninvited crops will steal vitamins out of your crops and so they can harbor pests and ailments.
Take into account rising your lettuce close to different useful crops like alliums, beets, calendula, carrots, cilantro, nasturtiums, parsnips, and radishes. Simply steer clear of brassicas.
You don’t need them sharing ailments and pests together with your Batavian crops.
Rising Ideas
- Plant in full solar or partial shade.
- Preserve the soil persistently moist.
- Preserve weeds out of the backyard.
Cultivars to Choose
There are dozens of cultivars on the market and new ones coming to the market on a regular basis.
You possibly can’t go incorrect experimenting with a brand new one since there’s so little cash, work, and time concerned. However in order for you a certain factor, these choices are tried and true.
Burgundy Delight
I imply, there’s nothing incorrect with the marginally crinkled leaves on considerably unfastened heads, with their vibrant crunch and candy taste.
However ‘Burgundy Delight’ delights for different causes. The darkish reddish-purple leaves are lovely whether or not you slap them on a sandwich or toss them in a salad.
You possibly can have vibrant, flavorful heads in underneath 70 days by heading to Burpee to buy a pack of about 500 seeds.
Nice Lakes
‘Nice Lakes’ was a collaborative effort between the USA Division of Agriculture and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.
It was launched in 1941 and is taken into account the primary “fashionable” iceberg kind.
However regardless of that, it’s nonetheless normally labeled as a Batavian, with a big, considerably dense head and deliciously crisp leaves.
It resists tip burn, received’t simply bolt within the warmth or chilly, and produces reliably even when the climate doesn’t cooperate.
For half a century, it was the most well-liked commercially grown cultivar of any lettuce, peaking at 95 p.c of the market. It was solely knocked off its pedestal when pre-packaged unfastened leaves took over within the mid-70s.
All that apart, it is a improbable cultivar and completely deserving of a comeback, although you shouldn’t really feel too dangerous for it. ‘Nice Lakes’ continues to be fairly fashionable with residence growers.
If you wish to be part of historical past by rising this fantastically tasty cultivar with its completely crinkly leaves, run to True Leaf Market for a gram, quarter ounce, ounce, four-ounce, one-pound, or five-pound package deal of seeds.
Plant them and count on your harvest in about 75 days.
Ice Queen
‘Ice Queen,’ or ‘Reine des Glaces,’ is a royally marvelous French heirloom that’s repeatedly lauded as probably the greatest Batavia lettuces.
It has inexperienced, frilled leaves on the surface and crisp, barely bitter leaves on the middle.
It’s additionally chilly and warmth tolerant, and intensely sluggish to bolt. Lower and are available once more, develop child greens, or harvest the mature heads at about 80 days.
Snag a gram of seeds at Botanical Pursuits.
Study extra about rising ‘Ice Queen’ in our information.
Muir
‘Muir’ is so warmth tolerant that it virtually appears it won’t actually be a wide range of lettuce. Is it truly a wide range of Malabar spinach in disguise? But it surely’s not!
It has semi-dense heads with extraordinarily wavy leaves which can be good for capturing oily salad dressing.
It additionally resists ailments like downy mildew and lettuce mosaic virus, and it’s extraordinarily fast to mature at 50 days.
Nevada
‘Nevada’ has the killer mixture of a velvety texture with a refreshing crunch packed right into a uniform, unfastened head.
It’s additionally much less prone to bolt or expertise tip burn than most different lettuces, plus it’s immune to widespread ailments like downy mildew and lettuce mosaic virus.
This open-pollinated cultivar is able to harvest after about six weeks and shops for a superb lengthy whereas.
It’s apparent why this one is so fashionable. If you happen to’d prefer to deliver it to your backyard, True Leaf Market carries gram, quarter-ounce, ounce, and four-ounce packets of seed.
Managing Pests and Illness
Whereas any Lactuca species can technically contract the identical ailments, Batavian varieties are usually immune to most points.
Some cultivars resist the oh-so-common downy mildew, whereas others are vulnerable.
If you wish to keep away from downy mildew, decide one of many many resistant cultivars. For the remainder of the possibly nasty ailments, learn our information to learn to establish and eliminate them.
In relation to pests, herbivores like deer and rabbits, and invertebrates like aphids and slugs are widespread points. We’ve got a full information to stroll you thru these issues.
Harvesting
I really like harvesting Batavian lettuce. Clipping the heads is so satisfying. As soon as they’ve reached their mature measurement, use a knife or clippers to chop by way of the bottom of the plant proper above the soil stage.
You can even harvest particular person leaves as they mature, utilizing a clear pair of scissors.
To retailer your lettuce, wrap it in a linen or cotton material and put the package deal in your vegetable crisper drawer. It could possibly last as long as per week this fashion.
Fast Reference Rising Information
| Plant Sort: | Annual vegetable | Tolerance: | Some warmth, frost |
| Origins: | Mediterranean area, later France, Belgium, Netherlands | Upkeep: | Low |
| Hardiness (USDA Zone): | 2-11 | Soil Sort: | Unfastened, wealthy |
| Season: | Spring, fall, winter | Soil pH: | 6.0-6.5 |
| Publicity: | Full to partial solar | Soil Drainage: | Effectively-draining |
| Time to Maturity: | As much as 80 days | Companion Planting: | Alliums, beets, calendula, carrots, cilantro, nasturtiums, parsnips, radishes |
| Spacing: | 6-12 inches | Keep away from Planting With: | Brassicas, fennel |
| Planting Depth: | <1/4 inch (seeds), similar depth as container (seedlings) | Order: | Asterales |
| Top: | As much as 12 inches | Household: | Asteraceae |
| Unfold: | As much as 18 inches | Genus: | Lactuca |
| Development Fee: | Quick | Species: | Sativa |
| Water Wants: | Reasonable to excessive | Selection: | Longifolia |
| Frequent Pests:: | Aphids, beetles, caterpillars, crickets, deer, fungus gnats, rabbits, slugs, snails, voles | Frequent Ailments: | Bacterial leaf spot, backside rot, damping off, downy mildew, lettuce mosaic virus |
What’s To not Love?
Batavian lettuce is improbable for thus many causes. Its versatility as a head or loose-leaf kind makes it a helpful addition to the kitchen backyard.
However with its illness resistance, warmth and frost tolerance, and ease of rising, it’s fairly arduous to not love.
How do you employ up your homegrown lettuce? Do you benefit from the child leaves in salads? Or do you watch for it to develop huge and use it to make soup?
I’d love to listen to your recipe recommendations. Share with us within the feedback part under.
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