VegetableLettuce
Spring Tower Celtuce Lettuce
Spring Tower Celtuce Lettuce is a Chinese stem lettuce grown primarily for its tender, edible stalks rather than its leaves. This early-maturing heirloom variety reaches harvest in 70 to 79 days and grows as a compact annual in zones 2 through 10, making it accessible to gardeners across most of North America. The broad, oval green leaves sit atop the prized stalk, which delivers a distinctive mild flavor when cooked. Its tolerance to both heat and cold, combined with its slow-bolting nature, makes it a reliable choice for spring and fall gardens.
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 real appeal of Spring Tower Celtuce lies in what you harvest: a crisp, tender stalk that transforms beautifully in stir-fries with meat, poultry, or fish. Unlike conventional lettuces, you're cultivating a dual-purpose plant where the stalk becomes the star. This variety arrived early to maturity among Chinese stem lettuces, meaning you'll be eating from your garden sooner than you'd expect.
Common Uses
Spring Tower Celtuce is grown almost exclusively for its stalk, which becomes tender and mild when cooked. It shines in stir-fried dishes alongside meat, poultry, or fish, where its subtle flavor absorbs the surrounding seasonings without overpowering them. While the broad, oval green leaves are technically edible, the stalk is where the plant's culinary value truly lives.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in spring as soon as soil is workable, or in late summer for fall harvest. Plant in cool weather for best results.
Harvesting
Harvest Spring Tower Celtuce in 70 to 79 days after planting. Cut the stalks at or near soil level once they reach full size; the tender stalk is the primary edible portion. The leaves may yellow or show color changes as the plant matures, signaling readiness. For best texture and flavor, harvest before the plant bolts, particularly in warm weather.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Lactuca sativa var. asparagina ‘Spring Tower Celtuce’
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Spring Tower Celtuce comes from a long tradition of Chinese stem lettuce cultivation, a crop that originated in southern China where gardeners have valued it for centuries. This particular variety represents the early-maturing segment of that heritage, developed to bring faster harvests without sacrificing the plant's defining characteristics. The variety carries the genetics and cultural knowledge of its region of origin while being shaped for the accelerated seasons many modern gardeners seek.”