Fresh, high-quality lettuce is a key component of many markets: pre-packed salads, restaurants, grocery shelves, and beyond. But not all lettuces are created equal. Growers must choose varieties that suit their climate, the market they target, and their operational priorities, whether that’s yield, leaf texture, resistance to heat or disease. Starke Ayres has a wide portfolio of commercial lettuce varieties, each developed to meet different demands. In this guide, we’ll take you through how seed choices translate into final salad bowl performance, with tips and profiles to help you select the right variety for your needs.
Selecting the Right Lettuce for You
From crispheads to specialty leaves, selecting the right lettuce variety can make all the difference in marketability, yield, and grower success.
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1. Crisphead/Iceberg Types: Robust Heads & Market Appeal
Crisphead (or iceberg-type) lettuces are known for their firm, dense heads, long shelf life, and strong appeal in fresh-cut, pre-pack, and processor markets. For example, “Commander” by Starke Ayres is a summer crisphead lettuce that reaches maturity around 55-60 days after transplant. It offers a large, uniform head with dark green wrapper leaves and excellent heat tolerance. This makes it suited to warm-season production where stability, head integrity and consistent appearance are critical. Choosing a crisphead variety means investing in strength under challenging field conditions, particularly in summer.
Variety “Major” is a good example of a winter crisphead, specifically developed for cold tolerance. With a large frame and deep green colour, it handles frost risk and provides protection for the lower leaf heads by sitting off the ground, reducing bottom rot. Ideal for late season or cooler regions
2. Specialty & Multi-Leaf Varieties: Versatility & Consumer Appeal
Specialty lettuces offer different leaf shapes, colours, and textures, valuable for salad mixes, baby leaf harvests, or niche consumer demand. Green Machine, a tango-type variety, excels at year-round production. In summer it matures quickly (about 25-30 days), and though it slows in winter, it remains productive. Its deep green colour and bolting tolerance make it a favourite.
Another standout is Canagio, a butterhead/multi-leaf type lettuce notable for its “one-cut variety” design- easy leaf separation, uniform, medium dark green leaves, non-folding habit, and slow bolting. It’s also suitable for hydroponic systems. This kind of variety is ideal for fast turnover markets, convenience packaging, and for growers looking to reduce handling time while maintaining leaf quality and appearance.
3. Disease Resistance & Environmental Tolerance
Environmental stress, heat, disease pressure, and pests are major constraints in lettuce farming. Starke Ayres invests in breeding lettuce with traits like Fusarium resistance, Bremia resistance, bolting tolerance, and better performance under heat or cold. For example, Brigadier is known for its heat tolerance and resistance to Fusarium races 1 & 2, making it reliable in warm conditions.
Winter crisphead varieties like Mestiza provide strong cold tolerance, resisting common disease pressures like Bremia, while holding up in cooler conditions for early or late season harvests. For growers in regions with harsh winters or temperature drops, selecting these resistant varieties is essential for consistent yields.
For Quality You Can Count On- Trust Starke Ayres
Choosing the right lettuce variety isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. From crisphead types that excel under stress and transport to specialty leaves that win on flavour, appearance, and ease of harvest, each variety brings its own strengths. For growers seeking consistent quality, yield, and market appeal, understanding the differences between varieties is essential.
Ready to elevate your lettuce production? Browse Starke Ayres’ full range of commercial lettuce seeds and consult with our experts to find varieties tailored to your climate, market, and operational goals. Grow smart, grow strong.
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