Typically, you can just tell by looking at your romaine lettuce that it’s ready to harvest.
But, if we’re talking about signs and indicators, the most obvious one would be the fairly large size and crisp texture of the lettuce leaves.
The head of the lettuce will be firm and compact with vibrant leaves densely packed together.
Methods For Harvesting Romaine Lettuce
There are a few ways you can harvest your romaine lettuce.
There’s a basic approach that involves cutting the entire lettuce head at the base, this is the one most gardeners go with since it’s fairly straightforward and easy.
Or, you can harvest individual outer leaves while leaving the core behind to regrow.
Let’s go over both methods in a step-by-step guide:
Harvesting Individual Leaves:
- Step 1: Let your romaine lettuce grow properly and develop thick, mature leaves. If you rush this process, there’s a high chance you may not end up with the most optimal tasting harvest.
- Step 2: With the help of some sharp scissors, cut the outermost lettuce leaves and try not to take anything away from the inner leaves or core.
- Step 3: Store your lettuce leaves in a cool place like the refrigerator to maintain texture, flavor, and overall freshness.
Harvesting The Whole Head:
- Step 1: Using a sharp knife, cut your romaine lettuce head at the base and pull the whole plant out.
- Step 2: Run the head under some cool water to rinse off any dirt that may have stuck to the leaves.
- Step 3: Store the harvested head in a cool spot like your refrigerator to keep it crisp and fresh.
Tools You’ll Need for Harvesting
To harvest neatly and efficiently, you’ll need to use the right tools that help make the job easier. These include:
Post-Harvest Care For Romaine Lettuce
Right after harvesting, immediately run your romaine lettuce under some water to remove the dirt and debris that may be stuck to it from the ground.
Also, because you’re going to consume the leaves, it’s a good idea to wash them just in case anything fungal or bacterial is hidden within.
Before storing the lettuce, however, make sure to pat it dry because excess moisture can make the leaves soggy.
For optimal freshness and texture, instead of throwing your lettuce straight into the refrigerator, put it in a plastic bag or some sort of airtight container.
Encouraging Regrowth After Harvest
Yes, you absolutely can push your romaine lettuce plant to regrow and provide additional harvests! But, getting it to do so is a little complex.
When you harvest individual outer leaves of the lettuce, leave the core intact. If you cut it off or damage it in some way, there’s no regrowth happening then.
Make sure the lettuce core receives plenty of sunlight on a daily basis and it’s watered and cared for properly. You can’t expect a neglected lettuce plant to regrow.
If you see any damaged stems or weak foliage, trim it to allow the plant to utilize its energy efficiently and direct more of it towards promoting new, healthy growth.
In about 3-4 weeks, new vibrant leaves should begin emerging from the core and regrowth will be apparent. From here, it’s all a matter of patience and maintenance.
