Celtuce


Celtuce , also called stem lettuce, celery lettuce, asparagus lettuce, or Chinese lettuce, is a cultivar of lettuce grown primarily for its thick stem or its leaves. It is used as a vegetable and is especially popular in both mainland China and Taiwan, where the stem is interchangeably called qingsun or wosun. Prepared separately, the leaves are called.
The pale green leaves, which are tender, and white stems, can be eaten raw or cooked. It can be pickled, grilled, roasted, or stir-fried. It is mild but nutty, with a slight smoky aftertaste. It is high in vitamins.
It is thought to have originated in the Mediterranean region and then brought to China during Tang Dynasty, about A.D. 600–900.
It can be grown from seed and is sown from April through May. The seeds can be planted in a set bed or a temporary nursery bed and then transplanted to the growing site. They should be spread 30 cm apart each way. The young leaves are ready about 4–5 weeks after planting and the edible stems are ready when about 30 cm tall. They are usually harvested between July and September.
The plant can suffer from aphid attack.
, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
The stem is usually harvested at a length of around 15–20 cm and a diameter of around 3–4 cm. It is crisp, moist, and mildly flavored, and typically prepared by slicing and then stir frying with more strongly flavored ingredients.