Harvesting Red Leaf Lettuce - Knowledgebase Question

Parker, Co
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Question by feolson
July 18, 2008
I planted red leaf lettuce and it is ready to pick, I am curious to know; How do I pick it? shoudl I cut it at the base with kitchen scissors or just pull by hand? I also heard the more you pick the more it grows?

Please help, thank you


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Answer from NGA
July 18, 2008
You can keep leaf lettuce growing for quite some time if you harvest the outer leaves but leave the center of the plant alone. You should be able to pull the leaves off the plant (cutting with scissors will encourage sap to drip from the cuts and the plant will end up with a stub of a leaf). I grasp an outer leaf towards the bottom near the stalk and push down while I'm tearing from one side to the other. The leaves come right off. You may have to try a few times to get the right technique (don't pull so hard you uproot the entire plant!). You may want to gently steady the plant with one hand and pull with the other.

Enjoy your lettuce!

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