Knowing when is romaine lettuce ready to pick is the key to crisp, sweet, and never-bitter leaves. Picking at the perfect moment makes all the difference for your salad bowl.
This guide will walk you through the simple signs of readiness. We’ll cover everything from size and feel to the best time of day for harvest. You’ll learn how to pick individual leaves or the whole head for a continuous supply.
When Is Romaine Lettuce Ready To Pick
Romaine lettuce is ready to pick when it forms a firm, elongated head and the leaves are crisp and fully developed. The outer leaves will be dark green, while the inner heart leaves are a lighter, creamy yellow-green. A mature head is typically 6 to 10 inches tall.
Timing is everything. Harvest too early, and you get small leaves. Harvest too late, and the plant can bolt, turning the leaves tough and bitter. Let’s break down the specific signs you need to look for.
The Key Signs of Ripeness
Your romaine will tell you when it’s ready. You just need to know what to look for. Check these visual and tactile clues in your garden.
- Head Firmness: Gently squeeze the head. A mature romaine head will feel firm and dense in the center, like a closed book. If it still feels loose and leafy, it needs more time to compact.
- Leaf Size and Color: The outer leaves should be deep green, sturdy, and often 6 to 8 inches long. The inner leaves, or heart, will be lighter in color—almost pale green or yellow—and more tender.
- Overall Height: Most romaine varieties are ready when they reach their stated mature height, usually between 6 and 10 inches. Check your seed packet for the specific variety you planted.
- Time Since Planting: As a general rule, romaine takes 60 to 75 days from transplant to mature harvest. This is a helpful guideline, but always trust the physical signs over the calendar.
The “Thumb Test” and Other Tactile Checks
Your hands are great tools. The “thumb test” is a classic gardener’s trick. Press your thumb against the base of the head, right above the soil line.
If it yields slightly but still feels solid, it’s likely ready. If it feels soft or gives too easilly, it’s not yet firm enough. Another test is to listen for a crisp sound when you gently rustle the leaves.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long?
Romaine won’t wait forever. The biggest risk of waiting to long is bolting. This is when the plant sends up a central flower stalk to produce seeds.
When romaine bolts, several changes occur:
- The center of the head elongates rapidly and becomes hard.
- The leaves develop an intense, unpleasant bitterness.
- The plant’s energy shifts from leaf production to flowering, halting growth.
If you see a stalk starting to shoot up from the center, harvest immediately. The leaves might still be usable, but taste them first for bitterness.
How to Harvest Romaine Lettuce Correctly
There are two main methods: harvesting the whole head or picking outer leaves. The right method depends on your needs.
Method 1: Harvesting the Whole Head
This is the most common method. It gives you a complete, crisp head of lettuce at once.
- Choose the right time of day. Early morning, after the dew has dried but before the sun gets hot, is ideal. The leaves are fullest of water and at their crispest.
- Using a sharp, clean knife, cut the entire head off at the base, about 1 inch above the soil line.
- Leave the white stem stub and roots in the ground. Sometimes, if you’re lucky and weather is cool, this stub may produce a second, smaller crop of leaves.
- Rinse the harvested head immediately with cool water to remove any soil or bugs. Dry it thoroughly in a salad spinner or with towels before storing.
Method 2: The “Cut-and-Come-Again” Approach
This method extends your harvest over several weeks. You can start earlier and enjoy continuous fresh leaves.
- When the plant has at least 5 or 6 mature outer leaves, you can begin selective harvesting.
- Choose the largest, outermost leaves that are at least 4-5 inches long.
- Gently pull the leaf downwards and away from the center, or use scissors to snip it off at the base, being careful not to damage the central growing point (the crown).
- Never take more than one-third of the total leaves at one time. This allows the plant to keep growing and producing new leaves from the center.
Post-Harvest Handling for Maximum Freshness
What you do after picking is just as important. Proper handling keeps your lettuce crisp for over a week.
- Cool it Quickly: Get your harvested lettuce out of the sun and into a cool place as soon as possible. Heat wilts leaves rapidly.
- Wash Gently: Swish the leaves in a bowl of cold water, not under a forceful tap, which can bruise them. Repeat until no grit remains.
- Dry Thoroughly: Water left on leaves accelerates spoilage. A salad spinner is the best tool for this job, followed by patting with clean towels.
- Store Properly: Place the dry leaves or whole head in a plastic bag or airtight container with a single dry paper towel inside to absorb excess moisture. Store in the high-humidity drawer of your refrigerator.
Troubleshooting Common Harvest Issues
Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Here’s how to handle common problems.
Bitter Leaves
Bitterness is often caused by stress. This includes hot weather, inconsistent watering, or waiting to long to harvest. If your leaves are slightly bitter, try soaking them in ice water for 15-20 minutes before drying. This can sometimes milden the flavor.
Small, Stunted Heads
If your romaine isn’t forming a proper head, it might be due to overcrowding, poor soil nutrition, or to much shade. Ensure plants are spaced 10-12 inches apart and receive at least 6 hours of sun daily. A balanced fertilizer can help.
Slugs or Insects on Harvested Heads
A thorough wash in cold water usually removes hitchhikers. For aphids, a brief soak in a solution of water and a small amount of vinegar (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) can help, followed by a thorough rinse.
FAQs: Your Romaine Harvest Questions Answered
Can you pick romaine lettuce early?
Yes, you can pick young, tender leaves for baby romaine anytime after they reach a few inches in length. They will be milder but won’t have the classic crisp heart.
How many times can you harvest romaine?
If you use the “cut-and-come-again” method, you can harvest from the same plant several times over 2-3 weeks. Harvesting the whole head is a one-time event per plant, though a stub may resprout.
Does romaine regrow after cutting?
If you cut the whole head an inch above the soil, a second, smaller set of leaves may regrow if conditions are cool and the plant is healthy. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s a nice bonus.
What does bolting romaine look like?
The center of the plant suddenly grows tall and forms a seed stalk. The leaves become more upright, spaced out, and the texture turns tougher. The flavor becomes very bitter.
Is it OK to eat romaine that has bolted?
The leaves are technically edible but often unpleasantly bitter. You can try the ice water soak, but it’s usually best to compost bolted lettuce and plant a new succession.
Planning for a Continuous Harvest
To avoid a glut of lettuce all at once, use succession planting. Sow a new batch of romaine seeds every two weeks. This way, you’ll have a steady supply of heads maturing throughout the growing season instead of all at once.
Also, consider planting different lettuce varieties with varying days to maturity. This natural stagger ensures something is always ready in your garden patch. With these tips, you’ll always know the perfect moment for harvest, ensuring every salad is made with crisp, sweet, home-grown romaine.