Daily gardening tip · Southern hemisphere · Wednesday 28 October 2026 · mid spring
Harvest Loose-Leaf Lettuce Leaf by Leaf
Harvesting loose-leaf lettuce correctly lets you pick fresh salad greens daily while keeping the plant producing for weeks.
5 minuteseasyharvesting
Look for lettuce plants that have reached at least 10 to 15 centimetres in height.
Select the largest, outermost leaves near the base of the plant.
Use sharp scissors or your thumb and forefinger to snip or snap each outer leaf clean at the stem.
Leave the central growing core and smaller inner leaves untouched so the plant continues to grow.
Why it works
Loose-leaf lettuces grow from a central point, constantly pushing out new leaves from the middle. By taking only the mature outer leaves, you leave the main growing point undamaged, allowing the plant to generate a steady supply of new foliage over the coming weeks.
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