Lots and Lots of Lettuce! (5/17/20)

[akivalocal]

In my last Bounty, I have a bunch of different lettuce types going. Basically I ordered 2 of the Aerogarden lettuce kits and threw everything in! They have grown SO quickly!




And here's my favorite, the Black Seeded Simpson. It's gotten so big already!



Any lettuce growers out there able to answer some questions? When do I start to harvest them? And how? I've heard of the "hair cut" method, and also harvesting individual leaves. Any preferences or tips?

Here's to a big salad soon!

One of my favorites! I start to harvest at 3 1/2-4 weeks! I usually do the big chop haircut and wait for pods to completely grow back. I also alternate and do the leaves at times too! But the big chop is my fav because I have at least 2 AG's with lettuce or other greens going at the same time.

They look real good!!!

[akivalocal]

Wow, @cornne, that's soon! 3 1/2 - 4 weeks? I guess I'll be enjoying my salad sooner than I thought! Fingers crossed that everything continues to go well. 

[ERR0R1755]

Taking individual leaves will give you more time before the lettuce bolts (which is when the leaves turn bitter and the lettuce send up a stem to make flowers) but on the other hand, harvesting a lot at once makes salads easier.

Lettuce grows so fast and easily that I wouldn't stress much about it - just do whatever method gives you enough for your ideal "serving"

[Shawn]

It looks good.  You will enjoy it!

[akivalocal]

Here is an update on the lettuce. It's really exploded! I'm wondering if it's time for my first harvest, or if I should let it go longer. Thoughts?

Has it been more than 3 weeks? It still looks young.

[akivalocal]

It'll be 3 weeks this weekend! Wait until after that?

I would, but it is up to you.

I have a few lettuce projects going and I rarely post about them any more, and almost never write down the starting date because I just look at the leaves and can tell when they are ready.

Here is one which I would guesstimate at 3 1/2 weeks and I will be clipping some of it in the next few days.

It just looks ready!I wait til the leaves get light and 'fluffy'

But your varieties are much different and you just have to keep an eye on the mature leaves and harvest them.

Have you gone over to AG You Tube and viewed the Harvesting of the Kits?I think Shawn has posted some  Harvesting Videos here in a thread too.

[akivalocal]

Quick update: since that post about a month ago, I've had 5 or 6 very large lettuce harvests! My latest was a very large harvest last week, but the lettuce is already coming back strong. I've been using the haircut method. I just love how delicious everything is!