Celtuce () (Lactuca sativa var. augustana, angustata, or asparagina), 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, which are known as A-choy. It is used as a vegetable. In China, the family is informally called woju (), which is also the name of a cultivar. It is especially popular in both China and Taiwan, where the stem is interchangeably called wosun () or ().
History
Popular sources identify it as originating in the Mediterranean region and then being brought to China during the Tang dynasty,
Cultivation
It can be grown from seed and is sown from April through May in the Northern Hemisphere. 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 (edible) 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. It is high in vitamins.
In the US, celtuce is being used as a gluten-free pasta substitute.
See also
- List of vegetables
- <small></small>