Lettuceis the ideal addition to anynew nurseryman ’s vegetable patch . It ’s a fast , easy raiser , and it ’s a delicious ADHD - on to almost any meal . Plus , there are heaps of assortment to choose from , so you could prefer for your favorite and grow it in your backyard .

The best part ? Lettuce will continue togrow backfor multiple harvests , making it an accessible and affordable option to include in your veg garden . If you ’ve already grown your own lettuce and are curious about the harvesting process , find all the detail down below . You ’ll discover the instrument you ask , when to glean , and how to harvest different varieties .

Tools You’ll Need

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Before you could enjoy the greens growing in your garden , it ’s important to have the proper cock on manus . Fortunately , the necessities are particular many nurseryman will already have in their tool shed . Here ’s what you ’ll need :

Different Varieties

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Before you begin plant and harvesting your lettuce , it ’s important to have intercourse the differentvarieties of lettuce . There are two main types of lettuce you’re able to find :

Other mixture of lettuce , such as cos , exist , but you ’ll harvest them according to whether you want case-by-case leaf or the whole head .

Toxic foxglove blooms

Both head and escaped - leaf varieties can continue to grow if you glean them decently . Also , both options are ideal for uprise in your vegetable garden , inraised garden beds , or incontainer garden . unaffixed - foliage tend to be the more popular choice because it is gentle to harvest and lend to dishes , though head wampum last longer in the electric refrigerator .

When to Harvest

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The type of sugar you choose will define when it ’s ready for harvesting . That being said , most mixed bag should be ready for crop when the leaves are about three to six column inch long . Read the bundle directions for your cum or seedling to confirm when the plants will be quick for harvest .

Lettuce is a coolheaded - season crop and should be harvested in the former day of spring or late drop . With that in mind , it ’s better toplant in Julyor August orbegin sprouting indoorsandtransplantwhen the weather is cooler . The seed can be unmanageable to sprout in the warm , dry precondition of summertime and the works mayboltif it does grow in the warm month .

Potted pothos

How to Harvest Loose Leaf Lettuce

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Loose - leaf lettuce is a dandy pick if you ’d like to savour salads and sandwiches during the cooler time of year without having to put in any shekels . you may clip off the foliage as they mature whenever you ’d like to eat them . Depending on the multifariousness , the leaves will grow about three to six column inch long when they ’re quick for harvesting .

To remove the leaves , usesterilized pruning shearsor a acute knife , clipping the leaves near to the base of the stem . The plant life should keep growing because the etymon system is still intact . Then , all you have to do is unobjectionable and prepare the lettuce however you ’d prefer !

Hosta edging along the garden border

How to Harvest a Full Head of Lettuce

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If you ’ve opted for a full pass of lettuce in your veg garden , you ’ll have to wait until the entire works matures . Take note of the directions for harvest home on the source mail boat to specify when that variety will be ready . Signs of maturity tend to admit firmness , the plant filling out , and drear green leaves . That being said , this can range reckon on the diversity .

To reap the intact oral sex , expend a precipitous knife to take away the industrial plant from the stalk above the grime line . heading dough varieties can also regrow if you harvest them properly , so be certain to leave about an column inch of the stem above the stain control surface . If you remove the root scheme , it will not regrow .

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While a whole lettuce head is ideal for turgid salads , there are also several way of life to keep your lettuce fresh . examine wrapping it in a moist cloth and store it in an air - tight container to serve it stay crisp for longer .

Lettuce Know How it Goes!

Harvesting lettuce is a breeze ! All you have to do is hold off until the plant reaches maturity and harvesting it using a knife or pruning shears , either dispatch the entire head or a few leaves at a time , depending on the miscellanea . That being said , the veg can become bitter once it has bolted , so it ’s authoritative to develop and harvest during the cooler month .

Garden gloves with a pruner for working in the garden

Varieties of lettuce

hands harvesting lettuce in a basket

harvesting loose leaf lettuce

harvesting lettuce head