When is lettuce ready?

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

What a beautiful, neat garden you have! Your lettuce looks ready to me. If you cut the leaves just above the center leaves, the lettuce will keep growing. Here in NC I have lettuce left over from last year that is putting on new center growth.

Hi, Amy. Nice lettuce! The leaf lettuce you can pretty much harvest anytime. The smaller the leaves the better they taste in my opinion. As you harvest the leaves they will grow more until the temps get too warm for them. You'd be surprised at the nice size salad you'll get just snipping 2 or 3 leaves from each plant!! This is my first year with Romaine. What I did learn the hard way is the leaves (especially the outer ones) get bitter as your temps heat up. Let your taste buds tell you when they are ready - lol. Kelly

I start eating it as soon as I can pinch off a leaf. Yummy! Luvly bed ascholz!

Thanks everyone! I am heading out right now to harvest my salad for lunch! I'm so excited :)

Wish my tomatoes were ready.



This message was edited Apr 14, 2009 12:49 PM

Very, very lovely garden! Start eating!

ascholz - I know what you mean. My Arugula (Rocket) is almost ready, but I haven't even planted a single tomato/cucumber/sweet pepper yet! And the onions/carrots will not be ready until June/July.

As soon as the plant has eight or ten leaves cut the bottom outside two from each plant. With swiss chard, once it has more than six leaves you can take the one that's furthest from center. Lettuce really likes the cool, so all of ours have bolted now, but we're still picking from the lower parts.

If yall are still staying cooler than we are, you could always think about harvesting a whole plant to thin things out, but from your photo it looks like you gave each plant ample room. This is my first year growing lettuce, so I still have a lot to learn, but we have about 6 each of bibb and green leaf, and for two people, eating 3/4 salads a week, and another two days of using some of it for sandwiches. Oh, also about 10 swiss chard. Planted it back in Dec. and for the last two months haven't had to buy any at the store.

None of ours have formed tight heads, and in fact all are over two feet tall now (some three feet)...anyone have suggestions? Should I plant the next crop as soon as October? We only average 6 nights or so below freezing here. The few we thinned out in mid-feb only had maybe a dozen leaves each but hadn't gotten all lanky.
Peace out yall....

Hey Cher. What part a town? My Family home is @ Ursulines and N. Broad. Did lettuce 1st x too. Sowed seeds Thanksgiving week. Just pulled em up 2 weeks ago. This season will sow much earlier around mid Sept. Will stagger plant lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, beets, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, mustards, collards, turnips every 2 weeks til end of December for a continuous spring harvest. I had great success my 1st x round. Godspeed & good Harvest! Enjoy the JazzFest 4 me! Linda

That is one beautiful garden !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::laughing quietly on the inside:: Cher...eh, ok. I'm more of a "hey sweetie, yes dear, or hey bro" We're at the Riverbend, but if everything works out moving more lakeside, right by Delgado.

I don't do Jazzfest anymore...waaaaay too many people and the ticket costs have more than trippled since I first went (and I'm in my early 30s). It ain't the same, babe. :(
Bon Jovi.....need I say more?

Yeah, I think this next year I'll try to start on some lettuce and greens sooner, but a few of the swiss chard are still doing great. It was one of those rainbow mixes.

So how is it in Houston? Moved there after the storm or before? I have a friend that lives in Katy, so probably not more than 30 min. drive from where y'at. It just strikes me a way bigger, with less soul (no insults intended to any Texans), and more driving to get to anywhere. For the plants sake, I think it gets less average rainfall and is a couple degrees hotter, but I'm not sure about that.

What was this thread about again? lol

Wow -- what a beautiful garden!

Did you plant all this from seeds ?

Jann

Thanks for all your compliments! No , Jann, I transplanted it all. We got started too late to start from seed, but I will next year. I just planted seeds for corn, beans, carrots, and spinach...so we'll see how that turns out.

Amy