Lettuce question

[FlatBottom]

I've got a mini row of lettuce growing nicely in my garden and I was wondering, what is the best way to "harvest" it? Do I cut it with a scissors or tear it by hand or...? I know it grows easily, but I'd like to keep it tender. Thanks.

[larryz]

My wife always just cuts ours off with a knife.

[fishwater]

I've got a mini row of lettuce growing nicely in my garden and I was wondering, what is the best way to "harvest" it? Do I cut it with a scissors or tear it by hand or...? I know it grows easily, but I'd like to keep it tender. Thanks.

I cut heads of lettuce with a knife below ground, leaf lettuce I cut with scissors above ground. Leaf lettuce will regrow but tends to be slightly more bitter with each successive harvest. It helps to harvest early in the morning when it is cooler, submerge in cold water for a little bit to take the extra heat out of the plant then bag and place in the fridge. Refrigerating for a day or two will make lettuce taste sweeter.

With the long day lengths in Mn during summer, lettuce is tough to maintain. If you want to keep tender lettuce through July and August I'd suggest doing repeated plantings every two weeks and try to plant in a partially shady place. Crisp type lettuce varieties such as Nevada are good summer types that will resist bolting and not be bitter.

[IFallsRon]

We always harvest by hand. And spray it with water an hour or so beforehand. That seems to give it a little more life.