Spring Tower Specialty Green is a Chinese celtuce, a unique leafy vegetable that blurs the line between lettuce and asparagus by developing an enlarged, tender stem as its prized edible center. This open-pollinated variety grows compactly and reaches harvest in just 55 days, thriving across hardiness zones 2 through 11. The plant produces a tuft of leaves atop a crisp central stem that can be stir-fried, broiled, or sliced raw into salads once it reaches 8 to 10 inches long. With its frost tolerance and adaptability to cool-season growing, it fits seamlessly into spring and fall gardens where traditional lettuce might bolt.
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2-11
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Moderate
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The stem is the star here, not the leaves. Once you strip away the outer skin, you'll find a tender, crunchy core that has nothing to do with conventional lettuce and everything to do with extending your harvest window. At 6 inches of spacing and 12 inches between rows, it grows efficiently in compact beds or containers. The 55-day timeline means you can succession-sow every two to three weeks for a continuous supply spring through fall.
The enlarged stem is harvested once it reaches 8 to 10 inches long and the outer skin is trimmed or peeled away to expose the edible central core. The stem shines in stir-fried preparations, broiled dishes, and fresh salads where its crisp texture provides an unexpected textural contrast. The upper leaf tuft can also be harvested and used similarly to other leafy greens.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before transplanting outdoors, placing seeds 1/8 inch deep and about 1/4 inch apart in flats or cell-type containers. Keep the soil surface below 75 degrees Fahrenheit until germination by shading flats on sunny, warm days if necessary. About 2 weeks after germination, transplant seedlings 1 to 2 inches apart into flats, pots, or 3/4 to 1 inch cell-type containers. Harden seedlings by reducing water and temperature for 2 to 4 days before transplanting outdoors.
Transplant hardened seedlings outdoors once soil temperatures reach at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or earlier if frost tolerance is being utilized for spring planting. Space plants 6 inches apart with 12 inches between rows. Full sun exposure supports robust stem development.
Harvest the plant once the enlarged stem reaches 8 to 10 inches long. Before eating, strip off all leaves except for the small tuft at the very top, then trim or peel off the outer skin to expose the edible central core. The stem can then be sliced for use in stir-fries, broiling, or raw salads.
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