How to Grow and Harvest Cut-and-Come-Again Lettuce for a Continuous Harvest

Grow Your Own “Cut and Come Again” Leaf Lettuce.

If you’re looking for an easy, productive way to grow fresh greens, “cut and come again” leaf lettuce is the way to go. When you sow leaf lettuce you are able to get cuttings of fresh lettuce for your salad from one planting. Leaf lettuce is often called “salad bowl” lettuce and differs from other lettuces like Buttercrunch or Romain that forms a head and is harvested whole. Many times, the lettuce seed package will say cut and come again.

When you use the succession planting method for leaf lettuce, you can have an endless supply of tender lettuce leaves over the season.  Succession planting ensures that you won’t have all your lettuce coming in at one time and possibly going to waste.

How to Grow Leaf Lettuce in a Square Foot Garden

I have been growing in raised beds for over 8 years now. One of the biggest advantages of growing lettuce in a square foot garden is that it takes up very little space and can be intensively sown.  Throw out all the rules on the seed packet when you are sowing your leaf lettuce seeds using the square foot garden method.

Choose Your Square: Dedicate one square foot (or more) in your garden for lettuce. Each square can produce a continuous supply of greens when managed correctly.

1. Sprinkle the Seeds: Instead of planting in rows, simply scatter lettuce seeds evenly across the square. Lightly press them into the soil and cover with a thin layer of soil or compost. Lettuce seeds need light to germinate, so don’t bury them too deeply.
2. Keep the Soil Moist: Lettuce seeds germinate best in moist soil. Water gently after planting and continue to keep the soil damp until the seeds sprout, which usually takes about 7-10 days.
3. Do not thin: Allow the lettuce to grow thickly over the square.
4. Feed Lightly: After the lettuce sprouts and is about a week old, I like to fertilize with worm casting tea. Just mix a pound of worm castings in a five-gallon bucket, stir and let sit for 24 hours. Mix again and frequently while watering.

How to Harvest Leaf Lettuce – Cut and Come Again

Instead of harvesting the entire head of lettuce, leaf lettuce allows the “cut and come again” method. The cut-and-come-again method is simple—just as the name suggests, you can return for fresh growth soon after harvesting. Use scissors to trim leaves at the base, leaving about two inches of stem intact. This remaining portion will allow new leaves to sprout and continue producing.

1. Wait Until Leaves Are About 4-6 Inches Tall: This usually takes about 3-4 weeks after planting.
2. Harvest a Little at a Time: Take only what you need for each meal, and the plants will keep producing for several weeks.
3. Water and Feed After Cutting: This helps the plants recover and encourages continued growth.  Use the worm casting tea.

 

Succession Planting for Continuous Harvest

To ensure you have fresh lettuce all season long, follow these succession planting tips:

• Plant a New Square Every 10-14 days:  This ensures you always have young lettuce ready to replace older plants that start to slow down. I stop planting the end of April, to mature the end of May. By then it is too warm and may bolt.
• Mix Up Varieties: Try different types of leaf lettuce, such as Black Seeded Simpson, Red Sails, or Oak Leaf, to keep your salads interesting. You can also buy a package of “gourmet” blend seeds which have several types of leaf lettuce in it.
• Adjust for the Season: Lettuce prefers cool weather, so plant more in early spring and fall.

By using the “cut and come again” method and succession planting, you can enjoy homegrown lettuce for months with minimal effort. Happy growing!

Karen

If you’re ready to grow your own organic vegetable garden but want a simple, no-stress approach, check out my No Fuss Gardening Course. This online course will walk you through the basics of getting your garden set up and thriving, perfect for DIY gardeners who want to do it themselves. If you’re looking for even more hands-on support, join the No Fuss Gardening Community. With monthly live video classes, weekly accountability check-ins, and a group of like-minded gardeners, you’ll get the ongoing help you need to keep your garden growing and stay on track throughout the season. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a bit more guidance, I’ve got you covered every step of the way!