In contrast to various types of lettuce, cut lettuce has the advantage that it can be harvested several times. Provided: The harvest is carried out in a certain way. If done incorrectly, there will be no long-term harvest success
How and when should you harvest lettuce?
Harvest lettuce by first cutting off the outer leaves 3-4 cm above the ground with a sharp knife. Harvesting is ideally done on sunny days in the late afternoon or evening, before flowering. The plants can be harvested up to four times.
The question of when
Depending on which variety was chosen and when the lettuce was sown or grown, the first harvest of fresh young leaves can be expected in May.
Cut lettuce leaves can be harvested at regular intervals from spring to autumn. As a rule, the first leaves wait for the harvest just 6 weeks after sowing. The plants can be harvested three to four times. After that there is hardly any resupply.
The following should also be taken into account when harvesting:
- ideal: on sunny days in the late afternoon or evening (nitrate content is lowest)
- harvest before flowering (otherwise: leaves hard, bitter and rich in nitrates)
What is the answer to the question of how?
It's not just the timing that determines whether the lettuce harvest is successful. In addition, the way in which the harvest occurs is extremely important. Basically, this involves not pulling the lettuce completely out of the ground, but - true to the name - cutting off individual leaves with a sharp knife.
Cut lettuce is cut 3 to 4 cm above the ground. This prevents the plant from dying. On the other hand, it is stimulated to form new leaves. The result: a long harvest period lasting several weeks.
First the outer leaves are cut off. The remaining leaves up to the middle are then added to the harvest selection. Only at the end, when the plant is to be completely removed, can its heart leaves be cut off.
Tips & Tricks
Cut lettuce cannot only be harvested in the garden bed. It is also possible to sow the plant in boxes and harvest it on the balcony in summer, for example.
