VegetableLettuce
Summer 38 Celtuce Lettuce
Summer 38 Celtuce Lettuce is a Chinese stem lettuce that shatters the myth of its name by being neither a lettuce-celery cross nor a warm-season crop. This heirloom annual grows in just 70 to 85 days, developing pointed light green leaves atop tender, edible stems that are the real prize. Hardy across zones 2 through 10 and remarkably heat-tolerant, it can handle temperatures pushing 100°F for short stretches without bolting, making it one of the most resilient cool-season crops a gardener can grow. Its compact form reaches just 5 to 10 inches tall, fitting neatly into small spaces while delivering superior stem development once warm weather arrives.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Growth Stats
10 in
Height
TypeBush
Spacing
14
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
2-10
Size
10in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
The genius of Summer 38 lies in its heat tolerance and slow-bolting nature, traits rare in cool-season crops. Unlike typical lettuce that surrenders to summer heat, this variety was bred to excel during warm spells, developing meaty stems while others would have already flowered and turned bitter. Its pointed leaves and compact growth habit make it visually distinctive, and the stem is where the real eating happens, offering a mild, tender texture that justifies the extra weeks of growing time.
Common Uses
Summer 38 Celtuce is grown primarily for its tender, mild stems rather than its leaves. The stems are harvested and used fresh in salads, stir-fries, and light cooking preparations where their crisp texture and subtle flavor shine. Some gardeners also harvest the outer leaves for use like conventional lettuce, though the plant's true value lies in the pale, succulent stem at its core.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in cool season, planting them shallowly in moist soil once nighttime temperatures are reliably between 40°F and 70°F. In northern climates (zones 2-6), plant in spring as soon as soil is workable; in southern regions, sow in late summer or fall for a winter harvest.
Harvesting
Summer 38 reaches harvestable maturity in 70 to 85 days. Begin checking plants around day 70, looking for stems that have thickened noticeably at the base while remaining tender. Harvest by cutting the entire plant at soil level or by peeling away outer leaves and harvesting just the central stem once it reaches pencil thickness or wider. The stems taste best when harvested before the plant bolts and sends up a flowering stalk; once bolting begins, the stem becomes hollow and bitter.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Lactuca sativa var. asparagina ‘Summer 38 Celtuce’
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Celtuce, also called Chinese stem lettuce, emerged from Asian agricultural traditions where the plant's crisp, succulent stems have long been valued. Summer 38 was developed specifically to extend the growing season by resisting heat and delaying bolting, capturing the essence of the plant's potential in a single cultivar name. The variety carries heirloom credentials and non-GMO status, representing a preservation of seed-saving practices and open-pollinated genetics passed through generations of growers who recognized this crop's exceptional adaptability.”