A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Lettuce Questions

This is great lettuce, taste great but as it gets bigger it seems to taste a little bitter.

Do I just cut this lettuce down and let it grow back?

Is there a way to save seeds from the flowers on top?

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The lettuce has bolted so yes it is going to be bitter. Let the flowers turn into seed heads or pods I'm not exactly sure which way lettuce makes seeds. Once they turn brown harvest them.

Lettuce will bolt if the temperature is hot very quickly. That's why it is normally planted during the early spring and fall seasons.

Yep. You should tear or cut that lettuce way before it gets to that height. I just tear mine off. Her in NC I plant mine first thing in the spring and as soon as the heat hits it it becomes bitter. Not sure how that will work in Hawaii. I'm going to try a fall crop.

Mine did the same thing when the daily temps hit 80+ a couple of weeks ago. I would think Florida is similar to Hawaii. I am going to see if I can harvest the seeds and hold on to them for next fall. My lettuce lasted six months!
Good Luck,
Michelle

I tend to prefer cut and come again varieties of lettuce. If you are growing in containers make sure that you water very regularly otherwise it will bolt quickly.