Romaine can be harvested in 1 of 2 ways: you can harvest the entire head of lettuce at once, whether by pulling up the head, roots and all, or by cutting off the head at the base. Alternately, you can harvest the outer leaves of the head and let the inner leaves continue to grow and mature.
How do you pick romaine lettuce so it keeps growing?
Cut the romaine heads off just above the soil line and below the lower leaves, using a sharp, clean knife. Cutting the romaine allows the plant to possibly grow additional lettuce. If you aren’t interested in growing a second crop, you can dig up the entire lettuce plant.
Does romaine grow back after cutting?
Unlike regrowing green onions or regrowing celery, you won’t be able to regrow a full head of lettuce. You’ll just regrow a few leaves 2-4 inches long. Enough for a sandwich. Regrown lettuce will bolt (send out a seed stalk) before it grows a full head of lettuce.
How do you harvest romaine lettuce at home?
Harvest romaine lettuce in the evening or early morning to keep the leaves crisp and unwilted. Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut off individual leaves or the entire head of lettuce at the base. If you choose to harvest the entire head, leave about an inch of the plant in the ground so that the lettuce can regrow.
How do I know when my romaine lettuce is ready to pick?
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. Romaine lettuce should be harvested when it’s full size, but just before it’s reached maturity.
How do you harvest romaine lettuce without killing the plant?
To harvest head lettuce without killing the plant, use a sterilized gardening knife or shears. Cut the plant at the base of its stem, and make sure you cut the leaf a minimum of one inch above the soil, without damaging the roots. Keep watering the stem, and in another 50-60 days, you should have another lettuce.
How many times can you harvest romaine lettuce?
Keep an eye on the inner leaves of the romaine head and give them time to continue growing. Once they’ve opened up and matured, they’re ready to harvest. This process can happen quickly, so check on your garden daily. You’ll be able to get 3–4 additional harvests by picking only the mature, outermost leaves each time.
Why is my romaine lettuce growing so tall?
ANSWER: Lettuce plants that suddenly start stretching toward the sky and growing extra tall are likely to be bolting. In the bolting stage, a plant stops focusing so much on producing foliage and starts to turn its attention toward reproduction, sending out a flower stalk that will eventually dry to release seeds.
Why is my romaine lettuce bitter?
The top reason for lettuce to become bitter is bolting. This term describes a plant that puts all its energy into producing flower stalks and buds that can open and bloom, producing seeds if they’re pollinated.
How many times will lettuce regrow?
Head lettuce will die back, but most leaf-lettuce plants renew efforts to produce leaves, if regularly watered after trimming. Results will often be smaller than the original plant, but you may be able to harvest a second, good-tasting crop within as little as two weeks.
How long does it take to harvest romaine lettuce?
60 to 80 days
Reaching up to 20 inches tall, most romaine lettuces take 60 to 80 days to harvest. The extended growing season works because romaine is able to grow without bolting in the warm summers.
Will bolted lettuce regrow?
Q: Will bolted lettuce regrow? A: Bolted lettuce, when cut down to its base will regrow under the right conditions. If summer is too hot, the entire plant may die, but in cooler temperatures, it may resprout and continue to produce.
Why is my romaine lettuce flowering?
It produces flowers that form seeds, so more plants can grow, a process that’s sometimes called “going to seed.” Bolting in lettuce is triggered by warm weather and the long days of summer, usually when the daytime temperatures climb above 75°F and nighttime temperatures are over 60°F.
How often do you water romaine lettuce?
twice a week
Lettuce has shallow roots, so plants need consistent watering. Check at least twice a week and water if the soil is dry down to 1 inch deep. Containers of lettuce need to be watered more frequently than garden beds, especially in the summer.
What type of lettuce is cut and come again?
They are often called cut-and-come-again lettuces. Cutting lettuces are mostly nonheading leaf varieties from two groups, Grand Rapids and oakleaf. The Grand Rapids group produces broad, crinkled, and frilly leaves, while the oakleaf varieties have flatter and distinctively lobed leaves.
What time of day should you harvest lettuce?
Lettuce: Pick lettuce in the cool early morning while they leaves are still crisp. Lettuce can be harvested as delicate baby greens, or as crisp, full-bodied heads. To harvest by the “Cut and Come Again,” method, cut with a scissors when lettuces reach about 4-5 inches tall to about 2” above the soil line.
Can you freeze romaine lettuce?
Thicker-leafed lettuces handle freezing better than supermarket-style iceberg lettuce. Examples of freezer-friendly lettuces include romaine or Cos types and Boston or bib types, which are also known as Butterheads. You can also freeze lettuces that blend both romaine and butterhead traits, like ‘Little Gem’.
Can I replant romaine lettuce?
Instructions to Regrow Romaine Lettuce in Water and Soil:
Chop up the romaine leaving a few inches from the bottom of the heart. Place Romaine in a bowl with 3 inches of water. Keep bowl in a bright, well-lit area and change the water every other day. Roots will begin to grow after several weeks.
What happens if you dont pick lettuce?
If lettuce is left in the ground too long, it will begin to form a seed stalk. This process is called bolting. If you wait until this point to pick them, the lettuce leaves will have turned bitter.
Can bolted lettuce be eaten?
Can You Eat Bolted Lettuce? Yes, you can eat bolted lettuce but you probably won’t want to. Once lettuce begins to bolt it starts producing compounds called sesquiterpene lactones. They are the plant’s natural defense mechanism to ward off pests so that it can successfully produce seeds.
Should I let my lettuce go to seed?
When plants flower, it’s generally considered a good thing; however, in vegetables grown for their leaves, such as lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and other cole crops, bolting causes the flavor to turn bitter and the leaves to get smaller and tougher, making them inedible.