The Best Way to Harvest Romaine Lettuce

By Calin Oancea

4/21/20244 min read

For the ideal harvesting, you need to harvest Romaine Lettuce by cutting the outer leaves so that it can regrow. You can also harvest the whole plant at the base, ideally in the morning for peak freshness.

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multiple Romain Lattuce plants that need to be harvested
multiple Romain Lattuce plants that need to be harvested
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dark green design
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Green Box
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The Optimal Time to Harvest Romaine Lettuce

Romaine lettuce is typically ready for harvest 60-70 days after planting, it is similar to the beet harvesting time.

We experienced that it is best to harvest when the leaves should be firm and crisp, and the head should feel solid.

  • Expert Tip: Harvesting in the morning ensures the leaves are at their crispest, this also applies to herbs and other vegetables.

Harvesting Leaf by Leaf

If you prefer a prolonged harvest, start by picking the outer leaves. Cut them one inch from the base, leaving the center of the plant to continue growing.

We tried this method and want to say that it allows for multiple harvests from the same plant.

a few leafy lettuce plants that are ready to harvest
a few leafy lettuce plants that are ready to harvest

Harvesting the Whole Plant

For a full harvest, cut the entire plant at the base, about one inch above the soil line. Our experts tried his method and experienced that it is best when the plant has reached full maturity or if you need a large amount of lettuce at once.

How to Harvest Romaine Lettuce Seeds

To harvest seeds, allow a few Romaine lettuce plants to bolt and flower. Once the flowers have dried, you can collect the seeds by shaking the flower heads into a container. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place for future planting.

a Salad plant with big green leaves
a Salad plant with big green leaves
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Post-Harvest Care

After harvesting, rinse the leaves in cool water to remove any dirt or pests. Pat them dry before storing to prevent rot. Romaine lettuce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.

How Many Times Can You Harvest Romaine Lettuce?

If you just cut the leaves, you can harvest Romaine lettuce around 3 to 5 times throughout its growing season. By harvesting only the outer leaves and leaving the center intact, the plant continues to grow and produce leaves.

How Do You Harvest Romaine So It Keeps Growing?

After growin Romaine Letttuce you can harvest its leaves multiple times: cut the outer leaves about one inch above the soil line, ensuring not to damage the central bud. After doing this the plant will regrow its leaves and you can harvest multiple times.

Why Is My Romaine Lettuce Bitter?

Romaine lettuce can turn bitter when it starts to bolt, or flower, usually due to high temperatures or the plant reaching maturity. To avoid bitterness yoou need to regularly water it and harvest before the plant matures can also help maintain a sweeter taste.

multiple Romaine Lettuce and other lettuce plants together
multiple Romaine Lettuce and other lettuce plants together
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Sources

Nature and Sustainability uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies to support the facts we describe in our articles. Please read our editorial policy to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Romaine lettuce general information and facts: romaine.pdf (uky.edu), Romaine lettuce - Wikipedia

  2. Harvesting romaine lettuce: How to Harvest Romaine Lettuce: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

  3. After harvest storing: How To Keep Lettuce Fresh After Harvest | Gardening Know How

  4. Harvesting romaine lettuce without killing the plant: How to Harvest Lettuce and Keep Growing More (thespruce.com)

  5. When to harvest romaine lettuce: How to Know When Romaine Lettuce Is Ready to Pick | Hunker

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Calin Oancea
Calin Oancea
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Calin is in the garden industry for 5 years now and knows a lot about gardening and plants. He owns this website and is responsible for most of the content.

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