Lettuce is without doubt the world's most popular salad plant. Both its common and its Latin name are based on an easily noticeable characteristic-it has a heavy, milky juice.

The word "lettuce" is probably derived from the Old French laitues meaning "milky," referring to this plant. The Latin root word lac ("milk") appears in the Latin name lactuca.

There are five different types of lettuce: crisp-head, leaf, butterhead, cos or Romaine, and stem. Lettuce is a fairly hardy, cool-weather vegetable that thrives when the average daily temperature is between 60 and 70°F. It should be planted in early spring or late summer.

North Carolina Lettuce Growers/Shipper List

Cooling/Storage Requirements of North Carolina Lettuce