Lettuce varieties that excel in hydroponics typically have a compact and upright growth habit to maximize greenhouse space; resistance to tip burn, which can be a problem for rapidly growing greens; resistance to bolting; and resistance to diseases, such as downy mildew, that are common in indoor growing environments.

Lettuce for Hydroponics

Head Lettuce Types

Butterhead

Generally grown to full-size heads, butterhead lettuce has a beautiful ruffled appearance, with a blanched heart and a delicate, sweet, and buttery flavor. "Boston" lettuce is a subtype of butterhead, with varieties that have a lighter green color, softer and smooth textured leaves, and nice big heads. Other butterheads can be darker shades of green, a little more compact, and have blistered/savoy leaves, or can be red butterheads.

Bibb

Similar in appearance, texture, and flavor to butterhead, but smaller, bibb lettuces are generally grown for mini-heads.

Crunchleaf

A range of newer lettuces with unique leaf and head forms, combining or demonstrating overlapping traits of icebergs, romaines, and other traditional lettuces—all with that popular high-crunch "tooth feel."

Iceberg

Iceberg, also known as crisphead, forms a dense head resembling a cabbage. It offers a fresh, crunchy texture and sweet, mild flavor.

Lollo

Lollo lettuces form loose heads with very frilly leaves that are often used for garnish. Lollo can also be used for baby-leaf production. The leaves are characteristically wide, and can be used for wraps in addition to garnishes.

Oakleaf

These varieties form attractive, relatively dense, rosette-like heads of curly, crisp leaves that are characteristically deeply lobed and similar in shape to those of oak trees. Primarily grown for baby-leaf production; some varieties perform well when grown to full-head size.

Romaine (Cos)

Romaine is best known for its compact hearts of long, broad leaves. The outer leaves can also be used as wraps. The flavor is sweet, and the texture is crisp. Some romaines have a more open plant habit than those that form the classic tall, blanched hearts. The open forms do eventually blanch but not as much, and cannot be harvested strictly as hearts. Romaine lettuce does best when provided higher fertility than loose-leaf types require.

Summer Crisp / Batavia

As the name suggests, summer crisp is the ideal choice for summer lettuce. It is relatively tolerant of hot weather and can be grown to either baby-leaf or full-head size. The full heads are heavy and compact. Similarly to romaine, summer crisp grows best with slightly more fertility than loose-leaf types. Summer crisp is also sometimes called French crisp or Batavia.

Green Leaf / Red Leaf

These include varieties such as 'New Red Fire' and 'Tropicana'. They are commonly found in grocery stores, banded with the foil ties around them. Used for salad, sandwiches, or wraps.