Can lettuce regrow after harvesting?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Lettuce can be regrown after harvesting if you are careful and select varieties that can regenerate properly. There are cut-and-come-again types, such as loose-leaf Oakleaf, which allow for regrowth of 2-3 times when the outer leaves are harvested. Heading varieties can continuously produce by immediately replanting the plant after harvest. All you need to do is leave a 1-inch stem intact, and it will regrow. This way, you can enjoy a wider window of harvests and less planting.
Cut-and-Come-Again Method
- Use sharp scissors to snip outer leaves 1 inch above crown
- Harvest no more than 30% of plant at one time
- Water immediately after cutting to reduce stress
- Apply diluted fish emulsion to boost regrowth
Stem Regeneration
- Leave 1 inch stem base intact after final harvest
- Place stems in water for 3 days to initiate roots
- Transplant to moist soil after root hairs appear
- Protect with cloche during regeneration phase
Increase regrowth potential via proper post-harvest care. Water plants immediately after harvest to ensure deep roots (within 2 hours). Apply nitrogen fertilizer, such as half-strength fish emulsion, quickly. It covers plants from direct sun for 24 hours after cutting. Keep at least 1 inch of soil moisture (Moisture) to ensure consistent moisture reservoirs. Following all these post-harvest care practices reduces plant stress and helps promote new leaf growth more quickly.
Recognize when plant growth has ended. After 3-5 harvests or picking, an established looseleaf variety will exhibit woody and bitter qualities, whereas a heading type, like iceberg, will not produce new heads after harvesting. In either event, remove plants from the soil andreplant as soon as possible using refreshed soil. Be sure to mix in compost to replenish nutrients before planting. Rotate beds to avoid pathogen build-up.
Use succession planting of regrowth-friendly seed varieties to expand the harvest season. Begin new sowings every 10 days and continue harvesting plants that were previously sown, stagger varieties with different maturity dates. Combine cut-and-come-again harvesting with new sowing for continuous spring-to-fall production.
For variety heads, practice stem propagating. After the final harvest, take some 3-inch stems and put them into water until they root. Then place these into pots with fresh potting mix. Keep soil continuously moist, and provide indirect light. In 3 weeks, new leaves will emerge from the center. This works best in moderate temperatures, around 65°F (18°C).
Read the full article: When to Plant Lettuce: Ultimate Growing Guide
