How To Harvest Lettuce......A Tutorial

A friend recently suggested that I post some tutorials on how to harvest vegetables here at the U-pick garden. I think it's a terrific idea, so every once in a while I will post one and copy it to a new tab labeled: "Tutorials".

My good friend, Lisa Ropp, who I have known since my earliest childhood, agreed to show us how to pick lettuce.

Thanks, Lisa!

Out here at the U-pick I grow only "cut-and-come-again" lettuce.....mostly leaf and romaine varieties. If harvested correctly, these varieties will provide 2-3 cuttings.

1. Select the lettuce plant you want to harvest and gather the entire plant together with one hand.

2. With the other hand, use a serrated knife to cut the entire plant off about 3 inches above the ground.

3. It's important not to cut the plant too low...if the heart is damaged the plant will not be able to produce more leaves.

4. Slice all the way through the plant being sure not to leave any leaves uncut, or damage any of the surrounding lettuce plants.

And that's it!

Lettuce was harvested from these plants just 2 days ago and look at how much they've grown back already!

Amazing!

When you cut leaf lettuce a white substance can be seen oozing from the cut edges. This substance is quite bitter, so for best taste results you should immerse the lettuce in a sink full of cold water as soon as you get home for at least 5 minutes to draw it out.

All of the greens here at the U-pick garden are $10.00 for a full grocery bag. Greens include: spinach, lettuce, kale, turnip and beet greens and arugula.