Lettuce is a staple leafy green vegetable in salads, wraps and sandwiches. It’s also an easy plant to grow, so that you can get a regular supply of lettuce in your backyard.
To ensure lettuce keeps growing, you can harvest them using cut-and-come-again, head, or leaf lettuce methods.
In this article, we’ll show you how to do each of these lettuce harvesting methods and share tips on keeping them fresh as long as possible. Read on to learn how to harvest lettuce like a pro!
Ways to Harvest Lettuce
There are three ways to harvest lettuce: the cut-and-come-again, head lettuce and leaf lettuce methods. They help lettuce produce fresh leaves continuously as long as the root remains intact.
Lettuce naturally regrows its leaves once they are cut off the main stem. The plant only requires that the roots are healthy and intact in the soil and there remains at least one inch of stem and leaves at the base of the plant.
When the harvesting method is done correctly, you can expect lettuce shoots to start growing in less than a week. Now, let’s take a look at each lettuce harvesting method.
1. Cut-and-come-again Method
The cut-and-come-again method is the most popular way of harvesting lettuce because it allows gardeners to harvest leaves multiple times throughout the growing season.
It’s best used for romaine, butterhead, salad bowl green and red, black-seeded Simpson, lollo rossa and loose-leaf lettuce varieties.
After harvesting using this method, the seedlings will form a densely packed row of foliage as they grow. The basal point, where the leaves form, will remain intact below the cut so that new growth will emerge.
Here are steps to apply the cut-and-come-again method for your lettuce plant.
| Difficulty | Easy ●○○○○ |
| Duration | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Things You Need | Knife or scissors Bowl or basket Water Plastic bag or container |
How To Do:
1. Using a knife or scissors, cut the plant’s outer leaves about an inch above the base of the plant.
2. Water the lettuce plant after harvesting.
3. Leave the center leaves intact so it can produce new leaves.
4. Rinse the lettuce leaves and pat them dry.
5. Store the lettuce leaves in a plastic bag or container in the refrigerator.
6. Repeat these steps until you have harvested as many leaves as you need.
Head Lettuce Method
The head lettuce method is another way to harvest lettuce, especially for those that have formed a dense head of leaves. It’s best used for iceberg, romaine, butter, ice queen, Great Lakes or Little Gem varieties.
Not all types of lettuce grow individual leaves. Others grow tight, crisp heads that look like cabbage, and they’re called butterheads.
These head lettuces can take up to 70 days before they’re ready for harvest. The good news is that you can keep them in the fridge longer, and their leaves will remain crisp and delicious.
When harvesting head lettuce, the best time is early morning because the leaves are still crisp from absorbing water all night, and the sun has not yet caused it to wilt.
Here are steps to apply the head lettuce method for your lettuce plant.
| Difficulty | Easy ●○○○○ |
| Duration | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Things You Need | Knife Bowl or basket Water Plastic bag or container |
How To Do:
1. Using a knife, cut the head of the lettuce at an angle about an inch above the base of the plant.
2. Remove damaged or discolored outer leaves.
3. Water the lettuce plant.
4. Rince the lettuce head in cold water and pat it dry.
5. Store the lettuce head in a plastic bag or container in the refrigerator.
Leaf Lettuce Method
You will harvest the leaves individually in the leaf lettuce method. It’s an easy and flexible way to harvest as much or as little lettuce as needed.
This method is recommended for those varieties that do not form a head, such as loose leaf, lollo rossa and lollo bionda varieties. When applying this method, it’s best to focus on harvesting the bottom leaves of each plant.
Here are steps to apply the leaf lettuce method for your lettuce plant.
| Difficulty | Easy ●○○○○ |
| Duration | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Things You Need | Knife or scissors Bowl or basket Water Plastic bag or container |
How To Do:
1. Cut the lettuce plant’s outer leaves using a knife or scissors.
2. Cut them at an angle about an inch above the base of the plant.
3. Water the lettuce plant. Rinse the lettuce leaves and pat them dry.
4. Place the harvested leaves in a bowl or container.
When to Harvest Lettuce
Lettuce leaves are best harvested within 65 to 100 days from planting. Signs that they are ready for harvest are firm and fully formed lettuce heads and three-inch long, crisp leaves.
For head lettuce varieties, the butterhead should be firm and heavy. On the other hand, leaf lettuce varieties can be harvested throughout the growing season.
How do you harvest lettuce without killing the plant?
To harvest lettuce without killing the whole plant, do not cut too close to the ground so the plant can still regrow its leaves. Always cut at least an inch above the base of the plant to give it enough time to regenerate for the nest harvest.
It’s best to harvest the outer leaves first so the inner leaves will have more time to grow. You should also water the plant after harvesting to help it recover from the loss of leaves.
How long does it take your lettuce plant to grow back?
It generally takes two to three weeks for a lettuce plant to grow new leaves, depending on the variety, climate and plant care. Cut-and-come-again lettuce varieties can regrow fresh leaves as fast as one to two weeks.
Leaf lettuce varieties can be harvested multiple times without damaging the plant. In contrast, some head lettuce varieties can only be harvested once by cutting the entire head off the base of the plant.
To encourage your lettuce plant to regrow faster, you can water and fertilize them every week. However, refrain from harvesting lettuce during hot weather or summer because the heat can stress them out and stunt their growth.
What happens when lettuce bolts?
Lettuce plants bolt as a sign that the plant is beginning to make new seeds. This occurs when the plant is stressed by long, hot days, resulting in bitter, tough lettuce leaves.
Although you can still harvest bolted lettuce leaves, they won’t be as tasty as regular leaves. You can remove the entire plant, especially the flower stalk, to prevent the seeds from spreading in your garden.
How do you keep lettuce fresh?
Keep your lettuce fresh by washing them and storing them in the refrigerator, where these leafy green vegetables will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
Before storing it, rinse the lettuce leaves in cold water to remove dirt. Pat them dry and wrap them in a damp paper towel to keep the leaves hydrated.
You can also put your lettuce in a plastic bag or container before putting them inside the fridge to prevent them from wilting.
Succession Planting for Lettuce Plants
Succession planting is a gardening technique involving regularly planting different crops. This is usually done to extend the harvest season, ensure a continuous produce supply, or prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
To apply succession planting in lettuce plants, choose a variety suited to your climate. Then, plant lettuce seeds every two to three weeks to enjoy a continuous supply throughout the growing season.
Plant your lettuce seeds in different areas in your garden to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. You should also harvest them regularly to encourage the plant to produce new leaves faster.
Here are steps to apply the succession planting on lettuce plants.
| Difficulty | Easy ●○○○○ |
| Duration | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Things You Need | Lettuce seeds Well-drained soil Watering can Fertilizer |
How To Do:
1. Choose a sunny spot in your garden to plant lettuce, where it will get at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
2. Prepare the soil by loosening it up and adding some compost or manure.
3. Plant the lettuce seeds according to the package directions.
4. Water the lettuce seeds regularly, especially during hot weather.
5. Fertilize the lettuce plants every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
6. Harvest the lettuce when the leaves are at least 3 inches long.
7.Plant a new row of lettuce seeds every few weeks to extend your harvest season.
How do you make lettuce grow during summer?
Growing lettuce during summer requires the right conditions, such as using heat-tolerant varieties, planting them in partial shade, regular watering and applying fertilizer and mulch around the lettuce plants.
Some heat-tolerant lettuce varieties that you can use are Buttercrunch, Green Towers, and Summercrisp lettuce.
You can start the lettuce seeds indoors before the last spring frost to give the seedlings a headstart in tolerating summer conditions. It’s also best to plant lettuce in the shade to protect the plant from extreme heat during the afternoon.
Lettuce plants also need at least an inch of water weekly, especially during hot weather. To keep the soil cool and moist, add mulch, organic matter or other fertilizers to retain moisture and supply the plant with all the essential nutrients.
FAQs on How to Harvest Lettuce
How many times can you harvest lettuce?
Depending on the variety, you can harvest lettuce multiple times from the same plant. Cut-and-come-again lettuces can be harvested three to four times, while head lettuce can only be harvested once.
What happens if you let lettuce keep growing?
If you let lettuce keep growing, it will eventually bolt, where the plant will produce new seeds, and the leaves will become bitter and tough.
Will lettuce grow back after cutting?
Yes, lettuce will grow back after cutting. It’s best to cut the leaves above the plant’s crown so it can continue to grow.
How long does it take lettuce to harvest?
Lettuce generally takes about six to eight weeks to harvest from seed, depending on the variety of lettuce and the growing conditions. Leaf lettuce can be harvested three to four weeks after planting, while head lettuce takes six to eight weeks to mature.
What time of day is best to harvest lettuce?
The best time to harvest lettuce is in the morning when the leaves are cool and crisp.
