How long do romaine lettuce take to mature?
How long do romaine lettuce take to mature?
60 to 80 days
Reaching up to 20 inches tall, most romaine lettuces take 60 to 80 days to harvest. The extended growing season works because romaine is able to grow without bolting in the warm summers. Growing red romaine lettuce requires the same garden techniques as growing green varieties.
How do I know when my romaine lettuce is done growing?
When grown from seeds, romaine lettuce usually takes around three months (or less) to fully mature. You can tell that your lettuce is mature when it looks dark green and the leaves look open; leaves should also overlap in a tight bunch.
How long does it take for a baby lettuce to get ready to be harvested?
The young baby lettuce leaves can be picked for harvest 25 days after planting and the plant will reach full maturity in 50-60 days. Be sure to harvest your crop before it bolts. Loose-leaf lettuce is great for repeated harvests, as you get multiple harvests during the season.
What is the germination time for romaine lettuce?
7-15 days
Optimal soil temperature for germination: 10-22°C (50-72°F). Seeds should sprout in 7-15 days, depending on conditions. Lettuce seeds don’t sprout easily when the soil temperature is over 22°C (72°F) in summer.
Why is my romaine lettuce growing tall?
ANSWER: Lettuce plants that suddenly start stretching toward the sky and growing extra tall are likely to be bolting. In the bolting stage, a plant stops focusing so much on producing foliage and starts to turn its attention toward reproduction, sending out a flower stalk that will eventually dry to release seeds.
Why is my romaine lettuce so tall?
Most lettuce varieties are cool season crops. When the hot weather comes, they send up tall stalks that will flower and set seed. You’ll notice that the leaves begin to taste bitter around the same time the stalks elongate. This is called bolting.
When should I pick romaine?
Harvest the inner leaves once they’ve reached about 4 inches (10 cm). Keep an eye on the inner leaves of the romaine head and give them time to continue growing. Once they’ve opened up and matured, they’re ready to harvest. This process can happen quickly, so check on your garden daily.
How do I know when to harvest my lettuce?
You’ll know when to harvest lettuce leaves when they grow to about 3 to 6 inches long, depending on the variety. Keep harvesting the leaves until the lettuce plant “bolts.” This means that plant has turned its energy to producing flowers and seeds and leaves usually become bitter-tasting with tough stems.
Will romaine lettuce regrow after cutting?
Yes! To regrow lettuce, start by taking the lettuce and cutting it about 1 inch from the bottom. Put this stem in a shallow dish filled with about 1/2 inch of water. In about 10-12 days, the lettuce will be fully grown.
Why is my romaine lettuce not forming a head?
Head lettuces like iceberg and romaine require cool temperatures and grow well in spring or fall in most zones. Gardeners in warmer climates with shorter cold periods may find they get no head on lettuce crops.