When to Pick Cos Lettuce

balloo_2

Does the cos lettuce have to go solid in the middle before you pick them. I have lots of leaves but as I havent grown cos before not sure when to use do I wait a while or not. :coffee:

TonyMMM

COs lettuce should develop a firm/cripsy centre ....but you can pick them whenever you want ....if you have lots of them you may want to use a few early as salad leaves otherwise you may find they are all ready at the same time.

Lotus-eater

I've been using my cos for a while now. I just take the big leaves from the outside and leave the middle. Lovely.

balloo_2

Thanks To

TonyMMM

and

Lotus-eater

Would have clicked the thanks tab but it was not there???
:doh:Found it now :doh:

EmptyPockets

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I've been using my cos for a while now. I just take the big leaves from the outside and leave the middle. Lovely.

Can this be done with Iceburg too? As we have loads that will all be ready at once. Would be great to start using the side leaves now...

stilernin

I agree with TonyMMM about starting to use them before they 'look ready'. The temptation is to wait until they are fully grown to get the 'best value' from them and then you end up with a row of a dozen or more mature lettuces that need to be eaten now , and how many big cos can you eat in a week?

Best to use alternate ones while they are half grown, leaving the others to have space to fill out to maturity.

Also, remember to have more 'babies' to put out to make sure you have a succession.