Lactuca sativa 'Volare'PBR (Lettuce)

About

Lactuca sativa 'Volare'PBR is a named lettuce cultivar (genus Lactuca) in the family Asteraceae, grown for its edible leaves. Lettuce is an annual leaf vegetable most often eaten raw in salads and also used in sandwiches, wraps and soups. This cultivar flowers in the UK between June and August. Stems and seeds are sometimes used in other varieties, and some forms are cultivated specifically for their stems (celtuce).

About the genus

Lactuca, commonly known as lettuce, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus includes at 117 recognized species, distributed worldwide, but mainly in temperate Eurasia.

Wikipedia contributors, "Lactuca", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Lactuca

In the garden

Lactuca sativa 'Volare'PBR belongs to the long-cultivated group of lettuces (genus Lactuca) in the Asteraceae family. Lettuce has been raised for its succulent leaves since ancient Egypt and later spread through Greece and Rome; the genus name lactuca reflects that history. Worldwide production of lettuce reached 28 million tonnes in 2023, with China accounting for just over half of that total. Treat 'Volare'PBR as a seasonal leaf crop. Sow successive batches from spring to extend the harvest and pick young leaves for salad use or harvest whole heads as required. Provide open light, avoiding dense shade, and aim for a reasonably fertile, well-drained growing medium to encourage steady leaf production; many growers use cut-and-come-again harvesting to prolong usable foliage. In a UK plot this cultivar suits kitchen beds, allotments and containers on a sunny or lightly sheltered patio where regular harvesting is practical. Expect the plant to flower in the UK between June and August; plan sowings so the main leaf harvest occurs before flowering to maintain best eating quality.

More in the Lactuca genus

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