Lettuce ready?

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
janet59 Brampton, Canada Jul 05, 2008

I know these are dumb questions, but when is lettuce ready to harvest? I have leaf lettuce that has grown from plants, and it is growing alot, but how big do you recommend it should be when I harvest? Having never grown it, I don't know big it gets. How do I cut it? Does it grow back? Thank goodness for the annonimity of web questions!!!

Post #5208615
Quote
LTilton Glen Ellyn, IL(Zone 5b) Jul 05, 2008

You can harvest leaf lettuce at any time, but you don't want it to get so mature it starts to bolt You can pull out the whole plant, cut it off at the base, or just cut leaves off the plant as it grows.

If you cut it off at the base, it might sprout again from the root.

Post #5208647
Quote
Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Jul 05, 2008

Janet59, what kind of lettuce are you growing? "Crisphead/Iceburg" type? Leaf lettuce? Loosehead? Etc.

Do you remember the name of it? That will help us give you the best answer. And ditto what LTilton says, too!

By the way, Welcome to the Site!

Shoe

Post #5208951
Quote
janet59 Brampton, Canada Jul 06, 2008

Thanks for the welcome! It is so great to have the help.
It's leaf lettuce, and thanks to L Titton I boldly plucked and made a salad last night with our lobster dinner. Of course, it took all four plants to fill the bowl, but I will wait patiently for it to come back. Any further advice?

Post #5211899
Quote
Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Jul 06, 2008

"...with our lobster dinner last night." ! *thunk, passing out and jealous here! :>)

Sounds like you're on your way with the lettuce plants then. Only thing I can think of would be to feed them nitrogen and keep them weeded.

Happy Salads to ya!

Shoe

Post #5212181
Quote
LTilton Glen Ellyn, IL(Zone 5b) Jul 06, 2008

And watered!

Post #5212352
Quote
janet59 Brampton, Canada Jul 06, 2008

thanks for the encouragement, you are welcome to join us for lobster next time you are in Canada!

Post #5213198
Quote
Bookerc1 Mackinaw, IL(Zone 5a) Jul 07, 2008

Both my Space hybrid spinach and Romaine leaf lettuce come back happily when I cut them about 1/2" from the ground. I kind of do it in sections, about 1/3 of the patch at a time, so at any given time I have some in different stages of growing back.

Now, if I only had a red, ripe tomato to go with that tasty lettuce. . . I broke down and bought a store tomato, I was so desperate, and of course regretted it. My 'maters are still tiny. This is a Cherokee Purple. All of my tomatoes are still about this size or slightly larger. Patience, patience. . .

Thumbnail by Bookerc1
Post #5219356
Quote
linux_guile Pueblo, CO Jul 08, 2008

Ah yes, im in the same boat. im waiting on big boys and brandywine. My Big Boys are growing fast though, right now there about the size of a small orange and showing no signs of ripening, im hoping for pound and a halfers.

Post #5222580
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP