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Lettuce leaves becoming tough

EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
in Fruit & veg
I’ve been trying to crop my lettuce leaves over 10 weeks from the same plants, using Charles Dowding‘s method. This is to gently remove the outer leaves, composting all yellow ones, always leaving a reasonable-sized mini-lettuce in the middle, and gradually revealing a stem. It must work for him because he sells bagged salads, and they wouldn’t sell if the leaves were not nice. But I find that the leaves gradually get bitter and tough after maybe a month at most. I’m watering well when there’s no rain, and they look nice and healthy. I’ve tried this with quite a few varieties.  Have you managed better? 

Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I don't think heat is good for them.  I am now growing oak leaf lettuces in a long window box on the north facing terrace so no direct sun and water every day.   We just pick off outer leaves as and when we want and they are sweet and tender and not at all tough or bitter like the ones I've previously grown down in the veg plot.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    edited June 2020
    You might want to try a variety like Johnsons Salad Bowl.

    I've been harvesting the leaves for months and it is producing way more than we can ever eat. Truly chuffed as it is my first year with this variety and it has been a real star.

    If the leaves mature before I can pick them, I simply have a clear out for the compost heap and a few days later, there are fresh new leaves that are as tasty as the first.
  • Sabina13Sabina13 Posts: 113
    I'm still growing little gem, and watering everyday; it's coming up to end of 2 months I've been harvesting from them and they're still growing strong! I've not noticed any differences in taste either. Might your lettuces have bolted? 
  • PlashingPlashing Posts: 328
    I have grown Johnson's mixed green leaves and they are doing very well tender and productive.
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Hi, thanks for those thoughts everyone. No, they haven’t bolted, they still look like little lettuces. I bet it’s the sun/heat thing. Now I feel motivated to try again. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • andrewyang7102andrewyang7102 Posts: 3
    When harvesting lettuce, it is recommended to snip the leaves, make clean cuts about 1-2 inches above the central growing point (the crown of the plant), which allows the lettuce plant to keep producing new leaves from the center.

  • pinutpinut Posts: 194
    The longest cropping time span for lettuces I am able to get is about six weeks.

    I pick the lettuces until they are almost clean, leaving maybe 2 or 3 tiny leaves at the top each time.

    The natural habit of most leaf veg is that they need to reach a stage of maturity where they are able to complete their lifecycle by producing seed.

    Your job, as the veg gardener, is to control conditions in order to extend the time it takes the veg plant to reach maturity. You do this by continually setting the plant back by picking off leaves, pruning off branches etc.

    You need to keep doing it even if you will not be making use of it (ie eating it) just to keep the plant productive and to prevent it from edging towards maturity.

    Incidentally, lettuces are not just eaten raw. You can cook them just like spinach so the toughness and bitterness of mature leaves will be significantly reduced. Some of the crunchy varieties of lettuces like Lobjoit are perfect for cooking.


  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    Hi

    I was going to say the same thing @pinut

    Here is a recipe:  https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/257512/stir-fried-lettuce-with-garlic/
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

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