How to Grow Perfect Not Bitter Lettuce In Summer

Growing lettuce can be very rewarding, but nothing in my opinion is more rewarding than harvesting lettuce in the middle of summer and tasting the sweet tender greens that you usually enjoy only in early spring.

[ksandoval]

When I have more lettuce then I can eat, I put the surplus in a blender with a little bit of water then pour into ice cube trays and make lettuce ice cubes. Put those in the freezer and add them to your smoothies. That way you still get the nutrition from your harvest. Sometimes, I have to run a little bit of hot water along the bottom of the cube trays to loosen them out. Then I store them in a Ziploc baggie in the freezer.

[ShaunRoberts-tj]

I tried a few different ways to grow lettuce, direct in my plot, and in containers but the slugs and snails destroyed the plants as soon as it rained.
So I tried growing under cover, I made my own plastic covered wooden frame and grew Butter head lettuce.
The frame kept the soil completely dry, slugs do not like dry soil.
I watered directly around the base of each plant keeping the surrounding soil dry.
My lettuce are perfect!!!
No slug damage, no bolting whatsoever.

[greenclawbear]

All great tips! One thing I like to do is put all my lettuce beds on the east side of my house where they only get four hours of sun a day. They seem to do best there .

[carbrock.]

1. don't delay picking; eat 'em when they look their best
2. stagger plantings
3. heat-tolerant varieties (e.g. slo-bolt, red romaine, bronze guard, oakleaf)
4. plant 'em extra close to keep soil covered

[gardeninggal]

I grew buttercrunch that I purchased from you guys and I couldn't believe how easy and delicious was even in July! I did grew some into heads because my family loves crunchy type heads and they were picture perfect!

[heidigilman]

Thanks Luke! I have been trying to improve on my lettuce growing techniques. I saw one person comment that they make lettuce ice cubes from putting it in the blender. I do a similar thing, take a bunch of lettuce cuts and blender it with carrots, celery, and parsley and some water. I put a couple blenders full in a large pot and simmer about 20 minutes then put in containers and freeze. I can thaw one out and warm up for a delicious broth drink

[jaredheiberger]

I have been growing slo-bolt from MiGardener and have been blown away. It has been growing since early May and still producing without bittering

[charliehoos]

I planted lettuce in a Greenstalk so it’s close to the kitchen door, pick outer leaves for cut and come again use, and pulled bolted/bitter plants to replant herbs/lettuce seed directly. It has 30 spots for plants which makes a delicious planter with very clean lettuce leaves for ease in harvesting.

[choirmom]

Here in Central Texas, we started up with insane heat very early in the season, making gardening in general tough. We have to be very conservative with water or risk our wells drying up….it’s not raining either. While I had a decent lettuce harvest, it ended fairly early so I’m considering growing inside under grow lights to maybe have some going year round. By the way…the black seeded Simpson I grew from your seed (well, everything I got from you, Luke) grew so well and I think was the most delicious lettuce I’ve ever had! I’ve found I do better starting in growing trays and planting starts out vs direct sowing because something always attacks the tiny seedlings. Using a bed that gets more protection from late afternoon sun is key.

[jillian]

Excellent! Thanks! I'm going to start planting lettuces more closely instead of spacing them out.

[looneygardener]

So happy with Slow Bolt variety!!! Scattered seed, cut the tops, they grow back. Very close together so soil always covered.

[CookingwithCatLover]

I love those little beds too. I have a huge, overwhelming garden. I am 53 years old and have a hard time getting down- or getting up actually. I need to do a little different in our garden. I love your video, Luke. You always encourage me in one way or another. My lettuce was bitter and bolted. I like this thought. Thank you.

[lexkek]

I gave up growing salad greens outside. I'd have to wait till October for the weather to cool and for the chance of heat waves to lower. I live in SoCal. I grow them inside now and they grow so nicely. Had my first harvest today. I got two large bowls worth of salad greens.

[iamGrowing]

I’ll try some of these. I have been growing Salanova which never bolts for me and they come pelleted which works out great.

[TheRuckFarm]

Great tips Luke! I’m newer to gardening and lettuce is one of those things I love to grow (and eat!) but it does love to go to seed as soon as the heat hits.

[andrewshenton]

I’m still eating merlot and green romaine and kale transplanted in April may

[MissJens]

I’ve been using your same method that I learned from you a few years ago. Love this method so much.

[luba-healthywithluba]

Thank you, sir, for another valuable video.

[jackiehorsley]

awesome video Luke and I well definitely remember to look up those lettuce variety's for my fall garden

[daisy]

Love the science facts in your videos. 🙂