Depending on the variety, lettuce can be harvested two to four months after sowing. In the following you will find out how to determine the exact time of harvest and what to consider when harvesting.
Lettuce can be harvested when the head has reached the desired size
When is the lettuce ready to harvest?
The exact harvest time varies enormously depending on the lettuce variety. Fast-growing varieties can be harvested in as little as six or eight weeks, while very large heads of lettuce can take up to four months to reach full size.
The exact development time is usually noted on the seed packet. Here you will also find an overview of the most common types of lettuce and when to harvest them.
In general, you can't do much wrong when it comes to harvesting, as long as you don't harvest too late. Simply harvest your lettuce when you are happy with the size, or continue to harvest the outer leaves and allow your lettuce to continue growing.
Don't harvest too late
Once the lettuce is about to flower, it should be harvested in its entirety. Flowering drains the lettuce of energy and nutrients, which it drains from the leaves, making them less flavorful and less nutritious.