Harvesting Romaine can be a delicate process . Most importantly do not countenance it get over - fledged . Once lettuce is past it ’s prize itwill go bitter . The leaves become bad and the flavor is unpalatable . It ’s well to reap early rather than previous . There are some discriminative stimulus to take care for when deciding if a head word is ready to issue .
Days to Maturity
Every seed packet boat will have a ‘ days to maturity ’ section . It will provide you with the number of days between planting and harvest . Typically Romaine variety take between 50 - 85 daytime to suppurate . This number is deduce from multiple field trial on that specific mixture so it ’s a with child approximation . It ’s not an exactly accurate timetable though .
condition in your garden may be vastly different from those in the field . Nutrient and body of water regiment are different , sunlight is different , pest damage can set plants back . So , it ’s crucial to learn how to look at your plants and determine if they are quick to trim down .
Time of Day
To get the most from your lettuce plant reap them at the right metre of mean solar day . If reap during a harsh sunlight , kale tends to wilt within hours . It ’s okay if you are consume it decent away . However , if you want to store the head for any bit of days you must harvest ahead of time in the morning .
Farmers harvest lettucebetween 2 o’clock in the morning and just before daybreak . Get to them before the dew evaporates for the long ledge life potential . It ’s a Book of Job that few gardener face forward too , but it ’s one that pays in fresh laconic heads of Romaine lettuce . To determine if a head is mature enough to harvest , there are three test that dwelling house gardener can do :
Squeeze Test
A squeeze test in an easy way to determine if a Romaine head is mature enough to harvest . The school principal should be firm and compact , not airy or limp . Give the principal a light squeeze with your fingers . Feel for fullness , it should n’t collapse but remain solid . There should be some bounce - back indicate that it is full of moisture and not dry .
Base Size Test
Typically the base of a mature Romaine stem turn should be about 3 inches in diameter . This is for full - sized romaine lettuce , baby Romaine varieties will be smaller at the base . You may also have mature head with small stems if they produce closelipped together or did not get the maximal amount of sunshine . If a stem is small , but the head passes the squeeze test it is probably ready to harvest .
Snap Test
The leaves of a mature Romaine lettuce plant should be frizzy and crunchy . Take an out leaf of one of your works and carry it toward the base at the thick white root word . Break it off and if it snaps with a crispiness then the plant is ready to harvest . If it bend and is flexible , the plant is still unripened .
