How to Harvest Lettuce: 6 Tips for Picking Leaves at Their Peak

2025-07-24
How to Harvest Lettuce: 6 Tips for Picking Leaves at Their Peak

Growing lettuce in your garden is one of the best ways to get the freshest greens to eat, but there are a few tricks to know about how to harvest lettuce properly. There is no wrong time to harvest lettuces. You can eat the leaves at almost any stage of growth, so you don't need to worry about picking lettuce before it’s ripe.

There are also ways to harvest lettuce that encourage it to produce even more sweet, tender leaves for salads and wraps. These simple tips for harvesting leaf lettuce and head lettuce will help you get the most out of your plants.

1. Cut Leaves Periodically

If you are growing leaf lettuce, such as oak leaf lettuce, mesclun, and green and red leaf lettuce, you can cut a few leaves off the plants every few days for the entire season, keeping yourself supplied with a steady stream of garden-fresh greens for salads. After the plant has at least six leaves, snip the outer one or two leaves from each lettuce. Don’t cut more than a third of the plant so it can continue to produce more leaves.

Head lettuce does not regrow leaves if you use the cut-and-come-again method.

2. Take Only the Outer Leaves

Snip off only the outer leaves on leaf lettuce plants. These are the largest leaves that have been growing on the plant the longest. Leave the smaller, younger leaves on the plant to give energy to the newest part of the plant, which will keep putting out new, edible foliage. This encourages the plant to grow more leaves.

3. Harvest Leaves from Multiple Plants

Don’t take too many leaves from a single leaf lettuce plant at one time. Take two or three leaves off each plant, leaving it strong enough to continue growing more leaves. This will ensuring a steady supply of lettuce throughout the growing season.

4. Cut the Entire Head

Harvest entire heads of romaine, buttercrunch, iceberg, or Boston lettuce by cutting off the base of the plant with scissors, pruners, a sharp knife, or a hori hori knife. Pull off the leaves one by one, rinse the lettuce under cool water, then use in a salad or wrap. Or you can keep the lettuce leaves in a plastic bag in the fridge for a few days if you aren't ready to use them right away.

You can pull a whole lettuce plant out by the roots, rinse off the soil, and place it root-down into a bowl of water in the refrigerator to keep it crisp until you are ready to use it.

5. Harvest Lettuce in the Morning

The water levels in lettuce leaves are at their highest in the morning before the sun starts beating down on the plants. Aim to harvest lettuce during the cooler morning hours for maximum crispness. The sun and heat cause the lettuce leaves to release water throughout the day, so an evening harvest yields less crisp leaves.

6. Harvest Lettuce Before It Bolts

When lettuce reaches the end of its growing cycle or the weather gets too hot, it bolts. This just means the stem will begin stretching upward as the plant begins making flowers and seeds instead of new leaves. Once lettuce plants do this, the leaves it does have become bitter and the stems get tough.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How can I tell if lettuce has bolted?

    When leaf lettuce bolts, the main stem of the plant grows tall with lots of space between leaves. The plant will be leggy and rangy-looking. It may even start to bloom. For head lettuce, the center thickens, elongates, and forms a new center.

  • Can I eat lettuce once it bolts?

    It’s safe to eat lettuce that has bolted, but its leaves will be tougher and more bitter.

  • How can I tell if lettuce is still good to eat?

    If lettuce has started to bolt, clip a leaf and see if it produces a small amount of a milky sap, indicating the leaf may still be tender. If it does, taste test a leaf. If the plant is bitter, pull it up and toss it in the compost pile. If it still tastes sweet and tender, bring in those leaves and make a salad.

Related Article

5 Must-Know Tips for Designing Moon Gardens That Shine at Night

5 Must-Know Tips for Designing Moon Gardens That Shine at Night

Moon gardens bring a touch of magic to home landscapes. Get expert advice on safety considerations, plants, lighting, and decor for designing your own outdoor space to enjoy after dark.
How to Plant and Grow Heliotrope

How to Plant and Grow Heliotrope

Heliotrope is a sun-loving flower that blooms in summer and fills the garden with fragrance.
How to Propagate ZZ Plants to Grow Your Houseplant Collection

How to Propagate ZZ Plants to Grow Your Houseplant Collection

Follow these simple tips and learn how to propagate ZZ plants from stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, and root division.
Which Trees Produce Spiky Round Balls? Here’s How to Identify Them

Which Trees Produce Spiky Round Balls? Here’s How to Identify Them

Only a few types of trees have spherical, prickly seed pods, and each of these spiky trees has distinctive features. Here's how to tell them apart.
This Easy Children's Vegetable Garden Plan Appeals to All Ages

This Easy Children's Vegetable Garden Plan Appeals to All Ages

These children's garden design ideas introduce children to the fun of garden play. Filled with colorful plants, children will love growing their own food and flowers.
This No-Fuss Shade Garden Plan Is Your Fix for Bare Spots Under Trees

This No-Fuss Shade Garden Plan Is Your Fix for Bare Spots Under Trees

Featuring a mix of easy-care plants, this no-fuss shade garden plan is the perfect way to add color to a shaded spot in your yard.
26 Tiny Plants Perfect for Miniature Landscaping

26 Tiny Plants Perfect for Miniature Landscaping

Create a miniature plant garden by finding out how to pot your tiny plants based on light and zone. See our list of small plants perfect for your containers.
11 Fragrant Patio Plants to Fill Your Outdoor Space with Sweet Scents

11 Fragrant Patio Plants to Fill Your Outdoor Space with Sweet Scents

Count on these patio plants to add sweet fragrance to outdoor spaces with their flowers or even foliage.
6 Pollinator Container Garden Tips for Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds

6 Pollinator Container Garden Tips for Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds

Create a pollinator container garden that's sure to attract tons of butterflies, hummingbirds, and more with these simple tips.
How to Propagate Basil in Soil or Water to Expand Your Herb Garden for Free

How to Propagate Basil in Soil or Water to Expand Your Herb Garden for Free

Learn how to propagate basil cuttings into new plants by rooting them in soil or water with this step-by-step guide.
How to Harvest Lettuce: 6 Tips for Picking Leaves at Their Peak

How to Harvest Lettuce: 6 Tips for Picking Leaves at Their Peak

Learn how to harvest lettuce properly with these simple techniques so you can enjoy garden-fresh greens at their peak.
How to Regrow Celery from Scraps to Get Bonus Stalks

How to Regrow Celery from Scraps to Get Bonus Stalks

Learn how to regrow celery from scraps to save money and reduce food waste with this guide.
8 Common Composting Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

8 Common Composting Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Although composting isn't rocket science, there is a little science involved. Avoid the following missteps in the process for your "black gold."
Try Hydroseeding to Quickly Fill in Your Patchy Lawn

Try Hydroseeding to Quickly Fill in Your Patchy Lawn

Home hydroseeding can transform your lawn's brown patches into lush green grass.Here our tips on how to do it.
14 Easy Landscaping Ideas to Create Lots of Visual Variety

14 Easy Landscaping Ideas to Create Lots of Visual Variety

New to landscaping? Try our easy landscaping ideas to get maximum impact in your garden. We'll help you plan for color, texture, contrast, and more.
5 Best Raised Bed Garden Layouts—and How to Choose the Right One for Your Space

5 Best Raised Bed Garden Layouts—and How to Choose the Right One for Your Space

Designers share their favorite raised bed garden layouts for all kinds of spaces and gardeners.
Your Seasonal Lawn-Care Schedule for the Northeast

Your Seasonal Lawn-Care Schedule for the Northeast

Take the guesswork out of yard work. This lawn-care calendar lets you know when to mow, aerate, fertilize, and seed your yard in the Northeast.
Baking Soda for Plants? Here’s Why That’s Not a Good Idea

Baking Soda for Plants? Here’s Why That’s Not a Good Idea

Baking soda for plants causes more harm than good. Find out why and discover safer alternatives to help your garden thrive.
Super Plants for Kentucky Landscapes

Super Plants for Kentucky Landscapes

Beautiful landscapes start with outstanding plants, and these award-winners are perfectly suited to Kentucky gardens.
The 10 Best Low-Maintenance Perennials for Southern Gardens

The 10 Best Low-Maintenance Perennials for Southern Gardens

The best perennials for southern gardens are low-maintenance and a cinch to grow.