Pruning guide
How to prune romaine lettuce
More romaine lettuce care
- How to prune lettuce — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Full romaine lettuce care guide
- Common romaine lettuce problems & fixes
- How to propagate romaine lettuce
- When to repot romaine lettuce
Pruning romaine lettuce — FAQ
When should I prune romaine lettuce?
Outer leaf harvest from 30 days; full harvest before bolting, typically at 70–80 days from sowing. Snap or cut outer leaves near the stem base, leaving the inner head to continue growing. Alternatively, cut the entire head 2–3 cm above soil level for a possible ratoon re-sprout.
How often does romaine lettuce need pruning?
Outer leaves every 1–2 weeks; remove bolt stalks immediately when detected. Romaine lettuce doesn't need pruning, but outer leaves can be harvested continuously as a cut-and-come-again crop from about 30–35 days. Remove any outer leaves that yellow or show slug damage to keep the plant healthy. Once a central bolt stalk emerges, leaves become bitter — harvest remaining usable leaves and compost the plant.
How do you prune romaine lettuce?
Snap or cut outer leaves near the stem base, leaving the inner head to continue growing. Alternatively, cut the entire head 2–3 cm above soil level for a possible ratoon re-sprout.