iceberg lettuce harvesting

[briggsy2011]

Can anyone advise?
As part of my free subscription to the great mag gyo - i got iceburg lettuce plug plants. They have grown really well and are nice colour, but when should i harvest?
They are not in a ball as you see iceburgs in the supermarket but quite tall and the head is tight (ish) together in the middle.

I am tempted to harvest soon - should i take the complete lettuce up or do 'cut and come again'?

thanks guys xx

[Scarlet]

I've sown great lakes this year which is an iceberg type (i think!) I've just been harvesting the leaves when I need them rather than taken the whole plant.

[Aberdeenplotter]

If you have a goodly number of plants, why don't you harvest every second one to start with and this will allow the others to heart up. In the meantime get busy and sow some more Successional sowing is a must with lettuce.

[Two_Sheds]

Hearting lettuce isn't ideal for cut n come again ... you need a looseleaf type for that

Supermarket lettuces (and cabbages too) have their outer leaves removed, so all you buy is the inside round bit. People are really surprised at how big a cabbage plant grows, because you can't tell from the size of the bit that you pay for in Tezzers

[Florence Fennel]

That's a good tip AP, I've never managed to get a lettuce with heart. Must try harder.

[chris]

My iceburgs have taken a while to heart up. That said, they've gone bitter.

[Florence Fennel]

Ugh, bitter lettuce, that grosses me out worse than carrot fly grubs Chris. Do you know why they're bitter?

[chris]

Going from one of TS's earlier posts, I'm putting it down to the heat.. they're each in big in pots, but watered every day so the compost hasn't dried out..

[Florence Fennel]

I have only grown CACA up to now, but have had real success with it, mainly in the shade and haven't had to water it. I'm not sure I could devote so much attention to hearting lettuce. I do love Cos, wonder if that's the same?

[arpoet]

I now only grow coss or little gem.. but this years coss are bitter too.. little gems not ready yet.
Roger

[Two_Sheds]

Do you know why they're bitter?

Yes, it's because of the heat (they like to be under 18c apparently ~ ironic seeing as we eat most of it in the summer) The Causes of Bitter Lettuce Sap | eHow.co.uk

I've grown all different kinds, inc. looseleaf, which have fared better than the others (funnily enough, Winter Gem was the slowest to go bitter & then bolt)

[arpoet]

Yes, it's because of the heat (they like to be under 18c apparently ~ ironic seeing as we eat most of it in the summer) The Causes of Bitter Lettuce Sap | eHow.co.uk

I've grown all different kinds, inc. looseleaf, which have fared better than the others (funnily enough, Winter Gem was the slowest to go bitter & then bolt)

Thanks T/S it looks a good link that one.
Roger