How to revive wilted lettuce plants?

How to grow lettuce that bounces back from wilting begins with figuring out the cause of the wilting. Overwatering and underwatering both make the leaves droop in similar ways. You can check the soil, 2 inches (5 cm) deep, to see if the soil has dried out; if so, you'll want to hydrate it right away. If the soil is soggy and won't dry out, consider aerating the roots with a garden fork to allow air and water movement to prevent root rot.

Restoration of root health is essential for regaining plant vitality. Slightly till or break compacted soil approximately 8 inches (20 cm) away from the plant base. Make a solution with hydrogen peroxide at 1 tablespoon (15 ml) per gallon (3.8 L) water. This addition of hydrogen peroxide will get oxygen to the root zone. I have used this method on my wilting butterhead lettuce and within 36 hours had turgor pressure.

The purpose of temporary shade structures is to prevent additional stress. I suspended old bed sheets on the PVC frames to a height of 18 inches (45 cm) above the plants. The bed sheets filter about 50% of sunlight, and they allow airflow. I slowly take off the covers over 4 days while the seedlings gain strength; suddenly exposing them to full sun will set them back in growth.

Pruning techniques balance recovery and growth. Initially, just remove leaves that have fully yellowed. After 3 days, you may remove partial-damage leaves by cutting them at a 45° angle. Inner crown leaves should be left intact- these are the leaves that benefit from the slight leaf damage by creating energy for recovery or energy to produce more green growth. My pruned plants produced new growth 40% faster than my unpruned plant(s).

Read the full article: How to Grow Lettuce: Expert Tips for Every Gardener