When it’s time to get lettuce seeds, I don’t just grab any old pack off the shelf. To maximize the potential of both growth and taste, you should choose a variety that is best suited for your hydroponic system, the environment it’s in, and the taste you’re going for. Bibb lettuce is one of my favorite types of lettuce. It has great taste, it sells well, and it looks great. Here are 5 types of bibb lettuce varieties I would recommend you grow.
Butter Crunch Lettuce
This variety was developed by Cornell University. In my opinion, Butter Crunch is a must grow; there’s a reason why it’s one of the most grown lettuce varieties grown hydroponically. Its “butter” leaves are crisp, store well and it’s known for its delicious flavor.
Burpee Bibb Lettuce
This lettuce is said to be “The sweetest bibb lettuce ever!” by Burpee. I don’t know if that’s really measurable, but it sure has a great flavor! This variety takes a little longer to mature compared to others. *Tip- I thought I was having a trouble with some tip burn but realized after reading more the end of the leaves commonly are tinged brown.
Rex Lettuce
This lettuce variety is not recommended to be outdoors but is great for indoor hydroponics. Rex lettuce was pretty much made for hydroponic growing. Its thick leaves are tolerant to tip burn and have a high resistance to mildew.
Yugoslavian Red Lettuce
This lettuce variety not only tastes good but looks amazing. This bibb lettuce has red to purple-spotted throughout its leaves. It’s has a mild buttery taste and ready for harvest in only 55 days.
To learn more about growing hydroponic lettuce, check out my post on how I grew hydroponic lettuce in my garage.
Lettuce is a great starter plant for beginners and the staple of many gardens. It grows fast, is resilient, and can be harvested multiple times. Take the time to pick out your seeds and get a quality lettuce variety to get the most out of your garden.
