Successfully growing cut and cut lettuce: expert tips for planting and caring for cut and cut lettuce and we present the best varieties.
Cut or pick lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) are special variations of the garden lettuce. The special thing about these salads: They can be harvested again and again. In addition, they are uncomplicated and easy to care for and therefore also suitable for beginners in the garden. We'll tell you everything you need to know about growing lettuce for cutting and picking. In our article you will therefore learn everything you need to know about the different varieties, planting, caring for, harvesting and using these lettuce varieties.
Cut and pick lettuce: origin and characteristics
Cut and pick lettuce belong to the lettuce family (Lactuca) and thus to the daisy family (Asteraceae). The exact origin of the garden lettuce, which also includes cut and plucked lettuce, has not yet been clarified. However, it is assumed that the archetype of the garden lettuce is the prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), which is widespread as a steppe plant in southern Europe and the Near East as well as in northern India and North Africa.
The appearance and properties of lettuce for picking and cutting are very varied, since this is not a specific form of lettuce, but only the form of cultivation is meant. Lollo lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa), oak leaf lettuce (Lactus sativavar. crispa) or Batavia lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata ) and romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. longif.webpolia). These differ in appearance and growth habit. Even chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) or spinach (Spinacia oleracea) are used as picking and Cut lettuce is used and can be found in many a salad mix. In general, cut and pick lettuce is a herbaceous plant that initially grows as a basal leaf rosette. These rosette leaves are harvested by us as lettuce leavesand consumed. In summer the lettuce begins to shoot and form an inflorescence. The flowers of the lettuce are usually yellow, but can also take on a violet color.
Tip: In recent years, baby leaf salads have become increasingly popular. These are salads that produce particularly small leaves with a very delicate taste. And cut and pick lettuce also have exactly these properties.
Cut and pick lettuce varieties
As mentioned above, many different types of lettuce can be grown as cut or pick lettuce. In most cases, special mixes for cut and picking lettuce are offered, in which several types of lettuce are already mixed. If you like it colorful and varied, it is best to mix different types and shapes of lettuce. Lollo lettuce is characterized by its special, curled leaves, oak leaf lettuce has the special leaf shape of oak leaves and batavia lettuce comes in many different colours. The result is a beautiful, colorful picture - both in the garden bed or balcony box and on the plate. We now present the best varieties for picking and cutting lettuce.
Which types of lettuce are suitable for cutting and picking?
- ˈAustralian Yellow Flowerˈ: Forms large, leafy solitary plants with light green, delicate leaves
- 'Lollo Rosso': This variety produces small, very curly plants with dark red foliage; the harvest time is from mid-May to mid-September
- ˈCatalognaˈ: Forms dense bushes with long, lobed, dandelion-like, delicately crisp, light green leaves
- ˈOx Tongueˈ: Forms large plants with rich green, fleshy, tender leaves with a slightly nutty flavor
- ˈRed Velvetˈ: This variety presents you with particularly dark, red-brown foliage. It has a mild, full flavor
- ˈWitte Dunselˈ: Makes smooth, light green leaves and can be grown all year round
You can read more about the various shapes and varieties of lettuce in this article.
Buy cut and pick lettuce plants: Guide
When buying lettuce plants, the first thing that matters is your personal preferences. You should pay attention to the following points when you buy cut lettuce plants or lettuce plants.
What to look for when buying cut andWatch out for lettuce plants?
- Leaf shape and color
- Planting time of the different varieties
- Vital and undamaged plants
- He alth status
- No foul odor (may indicate root rot)
- Preferably from organic farming
Young lettuce plants for cutting and picking can be found in hardware stores, garden centres, at the weekly market and in nurseries. If you are looking for a special variety, you can also research the Internet and order from specialized online retailers.
Growing cut and pick lettuce
The foundation for a rich harvest is laid when you plant it - this also applies to cut and pick lettuce. We will therefore tell you where the ideal location for the lettuce is, when you should grow it and how best to proceed.
You can find detailed instructions for planting lettuce here.
The perfect location for cut and pick lettuce
The great thing about lettuce for picking and cutting is that you don't need much space to grow it and it also thrives well in pots. But no matter whether in the garden or on the balcony - the lettuce loves a sunny to partially shaded location. Above all, the soil should be loose and well-drained. A high nutrient and humus content is also recommended. If all these conditions are met, nothing stands in the way of a successful cultivation of cut and picking lettuce.
Where should you plant lettuce?
- Sunny to semi-shady location
- Loose, well-drained substrate
- High nutrient and humus content
Expert tip: Lettuce and cut lettuce are welcome neighbors in the bed. Since the lettuce grows quickly, it can be used as a ground cover for slow-moving crops such as carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) or beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris) can be planted. Also with spinach, onions (Allium cepa) and beetroot (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. conditiva) this salad harmonises well.
When will cut and pick lettuce be planted?
Cut and pick lettuce can be preferred, but this is only possible to a limited extent due to its rapid growth and short cultivation period. If you still want to grow young plants, you can start at the end of February. Sowing in the cold frame or in the heated greenhouse also begins at the end of February. DecideIf you opt for direct sowing, you can start doing so outdoors from the beginning of April. You can plant early or purchased young plants in the garden bed or in the pot from the end of April.
When should you plant lettuce?
- Prepare from the end of February or into the cold frame
- From the beginning of April outdoor cultivation
- Prepared seedlings from the end of April outdoors
Instructions: plant cut and pick lettuce
To sow the lettuce, loosen the soil well and enrich it with compost or a long-acting organic fertilizer. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is ideally suited for this, as it creates the perfect conditions for ideal growth of your cut or picking lettuce.
If the seed is sown directly, create planting grooves with a row spacing of 25 to 30 centimeters and a depth of 0.5 to one centimeter. Alternatively, a wide throw sowing can also be done. The seed is only lightly covered with soil or substrate, as it needs light to germinate. Now water the seed. At a temperature of 15 °C, the seeds should sprout within 10 to 14 days.
Tip: If you want to sow early and are afraid of frosty, cold nights, you can protect the seed with garden fleece at night.
Then the seedlings are separated at a distance of 15 to 20 centimetres. In the pot, the planting distance can also be smaller. Purchased or early-bred young plants are also planted at the same distance. When planting, be careful not to plant the seedlings too deep.
How is cut and pick lettuce planted?
- Loosen soil
- Amend with compost or a slow acting organic fertilizer
- Create 0.5 - 1 cm deep seed furrows
- Row spacing: 25 - 30 cm
- Cover seed lightly with soil
- Cast on
- Optimal germination temperature: 15 °C
- Separate after rising
- Planting distance: 15 - 20 cm
- Do not plant young plants too deep
Care for cut and pick lettuce: Water and fertilize properly
Picking and cutting lettuce requires a lot of water. The lettuce must be watered regularly, especially after the plants have sprouted and on dry and hot days.
Tip: A layer of grass clippings or leaves can be used as a mulch to protect the soil from drying out andalso suppress weeds.
Snails love lettuce, and lettuce for picking and cutting is no exception. That's why you should regularly check the garden for snails or fight uninvited guests. If you have made a basic fertilization with compost or a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect before sowing or planting, your lettuce will no longer need any further fertilization. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer with organic long-term effect releases the nutrients slowly and gently to the lettuce plants and thus provides them with sufficient and sustainable nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
How to care for cut and pick lettuce?
- Water regularly
- Reading or controlling snails
- After the basic fertilization when planting, no further fertilization is necessary
Increase cut and pick lettuce
It is possible to propagate lettuce yourself using seeds, but obtaining seeds in this case involves a great deal of effort and is also not very easy. It is actually easier to buy new seeds every year. If you still want to try it, you have to leave some lettuce plants to bloom. Approximately 14 to 24 days after flowering, small, delicate seeds develop. You can collect these by tapping them into a container. The seed is dried in a cloth bag and then cleaned. Stored in a cool, dry place, the seeds remain germinable for up to three years.
How to propagate cut and pick lettuce?
- Let Some Lettuce Plants Bloom
- Seeds are ready 12 - 24 days after flowering
- Kick the seeds into a container
- Dry in a cloth bag
- Clean seed
- Store in a cool, dry place
Harvest and store cut and pick lettuce
You can harvest your lettuce for the first time six to seven weeks after sowing. The procedure for picking lettuce and cut lettuce is different. You can read detailed instructions on how to harvest cut and pick lettuce in our special article on the subject.
Freshly harvested, both the cut and the pick lettuce should be consumed as soon as possible. It cannot be stored for a long time. Wrapped in a damp tea towel, it can be stored in the vegetable compartment of the refrigeratorbe kept for a maximum of one day.
Ingredients and use of cut and pick lettuce
Not only delicious, but also he althy - that's what the salad is said to be. When you take a closer look at the ingredients, this is definitely true when it comes to picking or cutting lettuce. Although it consists of up to 93 percent water, it also contains vitamins and minerals in addition to valuable dietary fiber. And of course it is extremely low in calories. 100 grams contain only 23 kilocalories. In addition, the cut and pick lettuce has a lot of good ingredients to offer.
100 grams of cut lettuce contains on average:
- 18 mg Vitamin C
- 50 µg folic acid
- 264 mg Potassium
- 68 mg Calcium
Plucked and cut lettuce is usually eaten raw. With its different colors and structures, it spices up every salad bowl. It goes well with other fresh or grilled vegetables and dressed up with sophisticated dressings. The small leaves of the lettuce are also particularly suitable for decorating other dishes. However, cut and picked lettuce can also be used when cooked. Fresh lettuce leaves are excellent in many wok dishes.