I can't believe I'm really asking this question, but here goes...
How do you know when lettuce is ready to be picked? I have red leaf and romaine and I have no idea how to tell when they are ready to harvest. Pictures are attached.
Amy
I just found beginner vegetables thread...sorry...this was probably the wrong place for this post but I don't know how to remove it.
This message was edited Apr 14, 2009 12:37 PM
Hi: Glad you found the other post. You can't remove a post once lauched.
However, I will give you my 2 cents worth.
Lettuce should be picked before it become too old and bitter. It can actually be picked at any stage. You can take the whole plant. Or, just pick the outer leaves. On some lettuce, if you cut the plant just above the soil, leaving the root and abit of stem above ground, the plant will eventually grow more leaves.
I alway just picked off enough leaves to use. One thing about lettuce, when it gets hot they will send up a flower stalk. The leaves taste best during cool weather. You want to keep the lettuce plant growing new leaves since these have better quality in taste.
I am in zone 4 and have grown lettuce in zone 5. In both zones I was able to pick lettuce all season long. You are in a much warmer zone, which I'm not familiar with so can't say if you can pick all season.
Good info...thanks blomma!
