It’s HARVEST Time
Yesterday, I harvested the first item from my 5×5 Challenge garden. I could have been harvesting the lettuce for at least a week, but I’ve been eating salads from the main garden. This lettuce was planted en masse and I will simply sheer it off when it’s time to harvest. The zucchini plants are getting HUGE and are starting to crowd out the lettuce anyways.
It’s truly amazing how many salads you can get from four square feet of lettuce. We didn’t eat all that I harvested and I only cut about a tenth of what was out there.
After I cut my lettuce I like to soak it in cold water for 15-20 minutes or so. That really seems to crisp it up nicely, especially when the weather is as hot as it has been around here.
If you did plant lettuce in your garden, make sure you start harvesting it soon. With the heat wave many of you are having the lettuce will start to get bitter and it will be bolting before you know it (bolting = going to seed).
Do you have any tips/tricks to share for growing and harvesting lettuce?
I had no luck with lettuce this year. We don’t grow lettuce in the summer here, it’s just too doggone hot. I now am anxiously awaiting for the fall planting to be done. Your lettuce looks luscious!
to daisy's comment
It’s hot here in NH too!
I find that using shade cloth over low wire hoops slows the bolting and help retain moisture in newly reseeded soil.
I seeded this week, hoping that the cooler weather next week will be kinder to the sprouts when them come up. It is a gamble of a few seeds, but worth it.
Meanwhile, the peppers, tomatoes, eggplants and garlic think they are in Italy, and they are happy!
to Marina C's comment
You know the soaking idea is a good one. I always find mine is a little wilty when it starts to get hot in the spring. Not too much longer until I can start to sow my fall lettuce crop. I’m ready for some fresh lettuce from my garden!
to Melissa's comment
when you lived in ohio when did you plant for a fall crop? It’s miserably hot here and will be until Sept. I live in central Illinois BTW.
to Amy S's comment
Yes I did, I often planted carrots, beets, spinach, bunching onions, and kale.
to Susy's comment
I try to harvest lettuce in the morning. I read somewhere that it was less bitter if you harvest it then, and it seems to work…
to Joan's comment