Do you want to learn how to grow an endless supply of lettuce? Don’t get trapped paying $7+ at the grocery store again with these tips!
Types of Lettuce that are Good For Continuous Harvesting
For a lettuce patch that keeps giving, varieties like loose-leaf, butterhead, and romaine lettuce are ones that I like to grow. I like loose-leaf types because you can pick the outer leaves and let the inner ones keep growing. Butterhead lettuce offers tender leaves and grows back quickly after harvesting. Romaine, with its crunchy texture, also allows for multiple harvests if you trim the outer leaves. With these varieties, you’ll have a fresh, endless supply of lettuce right at your fingertips!
Cut & Come Again Lettuce Varieties
- Black Seeded Simpson (Loose-leaf) – Known for its fast growth and tender leaves.
- Red Salad Bowl (Loose-leaf) – Offers vibrant red leaves and great flavor.
- Buttercrunch (Butterhead) – A compact variety with soft, buttery leaves.
- Tom Thumb (Butterhead) – Small, tender heads that are perfect for frequent picking.
- Parris Island Cos (Romaine) – A classic romaine variety that’s easy to harvest multiple times
- .Little Gem (Romaine) – A smaller, sweeter romaine that grows back quickly.
- Oakleaf (Loose-leaf) – Resembles oak leaves and is very tolerant of warm weather.
- Lollo Rossa (Loose-leaf) – Adds color and texture to your garden with its frilly, red leaves.
- Deer Tongue (Loose-leaf) – Unique, pointed leaves that are great for continuous picking.
- Salad Bowl (Loose-leaf) – Known for its slow bolting and ease of harvesting.
Where to Plant Lettuce In Your Garden
Lettuce grows best in cool weather, with ideal temperatures ranging from 45 to 75°F. It prefers partial to full sunlight, so aim for about 6-8 hours of light each day.
I like to plant our lettuce in spot where it will get morning sun and afternoon shade. This can help prevent the lettuce from bolting.
Lettuce loves moisture so constant watering is key for tender, tasty leaves. Make sure the soil is well-draining to avoid waterlogged roots. With the right balance of light, temperature, and water, your lettuce will thrive and provide a bountiful harvest!
How to Plant Lettuce for a Continuous Harvest
A simple method to sow your lettuce seeds for a cut & come again crop is to loosen the soil first. Then sprinkle the lettuce seeds where you want your lettuce to grow. I like to grow out lettuce in rows.
Instead of worrying about spacing, I focus on keeping the seeds in the area I want the plants to grow. Then carefully brush some soil over the seeds and water in.
Since you are planning on harvesting just the leaves and not the plant, spacing the lettuce plants are not as important than if you were to grow lettuce to harvest the plant as a whole.
As the lettuce grows, you can start harvesting outer leaves when they’re about 4 inches long, which is usually in 3-4 weeks. Always leave the central leaves intact to keep the plant growing.
How to Harvest Lettuce for a Continuous Harvest
The simplest way to harvest lettuce for a continuous harvest is to pick the outer leaves first, leaving the inner leaves to continue growing. This method works well for loose-leaf and romaine varieties. Simply pinch or cut the leaves about an inch above the base.
Another way is to cut the entire plant about an inch above the soil. This is good for butterhead and romaine lettuces. The plant will regrow from the base, providing you with more fresh leaves.
Succession Planting Lettuce & Leafy Greens
To maintain a continuous harvest throughout the whole planting year use succession planting. Start by sowing a batch of lettuce seeds or your leafy green of choice.
About 2-3 weeks later, plant another batch. This staggered planting schedule ensures that as one set of lettuce matures and is ready for harvest, another set is just beginning to grow.
I follow this process throughout the growing season with different varieties such as lettuce, spinach, and arugula.
Tools For a Successful Lettuce Harvest
Lettuce Harvesting Tips
Harvest outer leaves first – Pick the outermost leaves, allowing the inner leaves to continue growing.
Use sharp scissors or a knife – Clean cuts help prevent damage to the plant and reduce the risk of disease.
Cut leaves about 1 inch above the base – This encourages regrowth from the center of the plant.
Harvest in the morning – Leaves are crisp and full of moisture in the morning, making them tastier and more nutritious.
Don’t over-harvest – Leave at least a third of the leaves on each plant to ensure continued growth.
Fertilize lightly – Use a balanced, organic fertilizer periodically to promote abundant growth.
Check regularly – Harvest every few days to keep the plant producing fresh leaves.