Feel for fullness, it shouldn’t collapse but remain solid. It depends on your goal. After that, you will be able to harvest your lettuce about 2 … There are two distinct ways of harvesting romaine lettuce. Romaine lettuce comes to maturity in 80 to 85 days. The leaves of a mature Romaine lettuce plant should be crisp and crunchy. Romaine lettuce is typically ready to harvest 60 days after planting. To harvest lettuce leaves, either gently pull off the ones you want to consume, or use a pair of scissors. Harvesting a head of Romaine Lettuce grown from seed. We will also share every detail of harvesting leaf lettuce. If you want the whole stalk, let it grow up to the desired height and cut if off or pull it up. My Lettuce Is Not Growing Very Well and Is Wilting, Michigan State University: How to Grow Lettuce, Clemson University (Home & Garden Information Center): Lettuce, How to Harvest Romaine Lettuce in Your Garden. To protect the leaf lettuce, cover the rows with shade cloth or row covers to slow their bolting tendency in hot weather. To determine if a head is mature enough to harvest, there are three tests that home gardeners can do: A squeeze test in an easy way to determine if a Romaine head is mature enough to harvest. Romaine lettuce is easy to grow. Farmers harvest lettuce between 2 o’clock in the morning and just before sunrise. Every seed packet will have a ‘days to maturity’ section. Once lettuce is past it's prime it will go bitter. Garden-fresh romaine lettuce ('Lactuca sativa'), with its crisp, savory taste and thick, lush leaves, is the perfect addition to any salad. Romaine can also be harvested leaf by leaf to extend the harvest. If harvested during a harsh sun, lettuce tends to wilt within hours. It’s not an exactly accurate timetable though. When full size, Romaine lettuce is an upright, tight cluster of leaves. As a general rule of thumb, lettuce that was harvested in the fall, will take about 65 days to harvest, while lettuce that was planted in the winter will take about 100 days to harvest. This is for full-sized Romaine, baby Romaine varieties will be smaller at the base. You can tell that your lettuce is mature when it looks dark green and the leaves look open; leaves should also overlap in a tight bunch. Container gardening tips … For leaf lettuces, consider using a cut-and-come-again method. In comparison to other types of lettuce, romaine is considered more heat tolerant and bolt resistant. 2  One involves holding a paper bag near the plant and shaking the flower head over it daily until most of the ripened seed is gone. There are a couple of ways to complete this process properly. Plant lettuce every two weeks but keep an eye on the temperature. After the red leaf lettuce survived that first wilt it not only thrived but it literally flourished. Typically Romaine varieties take between 50-85 days to mature. It grows well in pots and is a popular choice for container and vertical gardening. For a continuous supply of leafy lettuce throughout the growing season, try planting romaine lettuce every couple weeks. This is the most common lettuce harvesting method. You can tell when the heads are mature by their visual appearance: they’ll have a dark green color and look leafy and open. You can use a general purpose fertilizer for feeding your romaine lettuce plants. The leaves grew rapidly and took on a beautiful neon glow (much to the envy of my gardening neighbors) And thanks to those same gardening buddies they stopped me from making a big blunder before I was about to harvest my first red leaf lettuce. Romaine lettuce takes about 20-25 days from the day of planting to come for harvest. Provided that you harvest your lettuce plant correctly, a second harvest is often possible. Nowadays, many people harvest lettuce in their homes. If harvested during a harsh sun, lettuce tends to wilt within hours. Before you plant your lettuce, learn more about the stages of romaine lettuce growth and the proper methods for harvesting. How To Harvest Lettuce If you want to try then follow the article. We have found that with our new LED lights, plants grow much more quickly! -- Position Grow Lights 4 – 6” above your plants. Everything You Need to Know About Your Lettuce Harvest 1. As time passes and the plant loses vigor, you may be better off planting a second round of seeds than waiting for new leaves. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. That's because the leaves taste best when they're still slightly young and tender, not crunchy and woody (and potentially bitter). Check the romaine in the morning when it nears harvest time. Conditions in your garden may be vastly different from those in the field. Evaluate your region’s climate and the season you are in. Break it off and if it snaps with a crispiness then the plant is ready to harvest. Her work has been published in Forbes, USA Today, Fodor's, Marriott Traveler, SAS Airlines, the Austin American-Statesman, Austin Monthly, and dozens of other print and online publications. Harvest the lettuce when it reaches between 6 and 8 inches tall, with leaves that begin to tighten. Lettuce Harvesting with Harvesting Tools and a Harvesting Rig. The leaves become tough and the flavor is unpalatable. Romaine lettuce will take about 60-70 days to mature and you will know when to harvest Romaine lettuce when the center leaves grow together to form a lengthy head. If you go with leaf lettuce, then you’ll have to trim it off when it is about 4-8-inches tall. As soon as the lettuce leaves reach a couple of inches in length, you can begin harvesting “baby lettuce.” To harvest individual leaves, use scissors to cut off the outer leaves near the base of the plant. Give the head a light squeeze with your fingers. Harvesting Romaine can be a delicate process. It’s a good idea to practice successive planting with lettuce to extend your harvest. However, if you want to store the head for any number of days you must harvest early in the morning. It’s fine if you are eating it right away. Romaine, also known as cos, forms tall, tight bundles of thick, sweet lettuce leaves. Once you've harvested your romaine, it's best to use it immediately for the best quality, although you can technically store head lettuce for up to two weeks. If a stem is small, but the head passes the squeeze test it is likely ready to harvest. Crisphead or Iceberg lettuce form firm, compact heads of pale green, overlapping leaves. Crisphead lettuce will form a very tight head in normal to cooler climates. Mature lettuce gets bitter and woody and will go bad quickly, so check your garden everyday for ready-to-harvest leaves. Farmers harvest lettuce between 2 o’clock in the morning and just before sunrise. Get to them before the dew evaporates for the longest shelf life possible. Approximately one month before the temperatures begin to rise, stop planting lettuce because most lettuce varieties take 30-60 days until they’re ready to be harvested. It’s a job that few gardeners look forward too, but it’s one that pays in fresh crisp heads of Romaine lettuce. Pick baby leaves for salads, or wait for maturity. Also, keep in mind that it's best to harvest your romaine in the morning, if possible, before the leaves have been exposed to sunlight. For year-round harvest, … Feeding your lettuce plants. The extended growing season works because romaine is able to grow without bolting in the warm summers. If it bends and is pliable, the plant is still immature. Alternately, you could also dig up the whole plant or cut the plant about an inch above the soil surface, depending on how much lettuce you want. Crisphead lettuce requires more space than other types of lettuce and can be finicky when it comes to water. While this type of lettuce can seed like others, it is also the most heat tolerant and you can plant it both in the spring and fall. It’s best to harvest lettuce in the morning before leaves have been exposed to sun. If you continue to water the remains of the plant, many varieties will still provide a second cutting in just a couple of weeks. As plants grow and begin to crowd, … This guide on how to grow romaine lettuce includes tips on planting romaine lettuce, caring for romaine lettuce plants, and harvesting romaine lettuce. Romaine lettuce should be harvested when it's full size, but just before it's reached maturity. To harvest Romaine lettuce, again use a knife and cut the entire plant off at the soil line. Excited home gardeners don't have to wait that long, however, to sample the fruits of their labor. So, it’s important to learn how to look at your plants and determine if they are ready to cut. To harvest whole lettuce plants, use a knife or a pair of scissors to cut them about an inch up from the ground. Try planting in early spring or the weeks of fall before the first frost. To grow the best-tasting romaine lettuce, keep the following tips in mind: Justine Harrington is based in Austin, where she writes about current trends in health, wellness, community, gardening and sustainability. The heads should be firm and compact, not airy or limp. Usable size means about 2" long for baby lettuce, and 5-6" long for more mature lettuce. Typically the base of a mature Romaine stem should be about 3 inches in diameter. Harvest and eat it before you get there! Lettuce is an edible vegetable. Harvest Crisphead lettuce—such as Iceberg with a solid, tight, spherical head–when heads are medium-size (6 … When you plant Romaine, take note of the days to harvest on the seed packet or tag. Romaine lettuce is a hardy plant that can tolerate light frosts and high heat, but it originated in the Mediterranean, and grows best in mild, damp climates and seasons. We will discuss how to harvest lettuce. This number is derived from multiple field tests on that specific variety so it’s a great estimate. If you have several heads, … Be sure to harvest before the plant goes to seed, because then it will be bitter. Harvesting Lettuce. Harvesting: Harvest leaves as soon as they’re large enough to eat. However, if you want to store the head for any number of days you must harvest early in the morning. Harvesting lettuce is an easy job but a bit laborious. You can start adding tender romaine leaves to your salads and sandwiches when they are young rather than waiting for the lettuce to reach full maturity. You may also have mature heads with smaller stems if they grew close together or did not get the maximum amount of sunlight. Whether you're harvesting Parris Island romaine lettuce or any other kind of romaine lettuce, it's crucial to know exactly how to harvest it, or else you risk damaging the plant. If, however, you harvest your romaine before it's ready, you may taste woody, bitter leaves instead of tasty, tender ones. General rule of thumb is to take off no more than 1/3 of the plant at a time. But don’t let your lettuce brown up in the lights either. However, if enough time passes and you've already harvested your plant (and new leaves aren't cropping up), you may be better off planting a second round of romaine. Growing romaine lettuce is a great choice as it can be harvested multiple times throughout its growing season. There should be some bounce-back indicating that it is full of moisture and not dry. There are some cues to look for when deciding if a head is ready to cut. To extend the harvest, pick outer leaves first and allow center leaves to enlarge. 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