Claudius lettuce is a head type Romaine variety developed by the Dutch company Rijk Zwaan for cultivation both in open ground and under cover. This early-maturing variety features uniform, well-closed heads with bright green leaf color and yellow-orange core. Claudius is adapted to various soils and temperature fluctuations, heat-tolerant, and can withstand minor frosts down to -5 degrees, making it suitable for year-round cultivation.
The plant forms compact rosettes with tender, succulent leaves possessing a mild bitterness, imparting excellent flavor to the lettuce. The variety is characterized by high yield, reaching up to 460 tons per hectare, and simultaneous head maturity, simplifying harvest. Claudius exhibits high resistance to powdery mildew, tolerance to bolting and internal necrosis, which reduces crop loss risks during cultivation.
For successful cultivation of Claudius lettuce, regular watering control, timely weed removal, and plant feeding are required. Seeds germinate well at +16–+17 degrees Celsius. The lettuce withstands prolonged transport without quality loss, has good storage capacity, and is suitable for both fresh market sales and processing. In culinary use, Claudius is widely used in fresh vegetable mixes, soups, and is suitable for grilling and stewing.
