Does flowering lettuce mean it's time to harvest?

[baps]

Hi folks,

First time growing vegetables, so a bit green if you'll pardon the pun

Had some vegetables growing for a while now, including these lettuce. I'm not sure what the variety is, but one plant has produced a flower. So I'm wondering what this means? Like is it going to seed or does it mean we should be harvesting these?

Most of my research has been about how to prepare for growing, looking after them and fighting off slugs! So I'm far from clear on when we should actually be harvesting our veg.

Many thanks,

Baps.

[Baldy]

Looks a bit like rocket to me - either way its generally a sign that its (gone) time to harvest the plant. I'd pull 'em and see if they taste ok - sometimes I've found once plants start to head towards seed they get bitter. Basically the plant has decided that the 'end is nigh' and its time to gt the next generation out there. I've got quite a lot of things bolting - onions in particular - probably because of slightly odd weather this year - lack of water being the main thing (here anyway).
Fingers crossed.

[Bren In Pots]

I agree with Baldy its just something that happens, I don't like the taste of bland lettuce so i keep eating mine once its bolted.

[Snoop Puss]

I've only ever seen wild rocket. The leaves look very similar but the flowers are very different. I hesitate to mention this, seeing as everything in the photo is a picture of health, but might the flower be a weed flower growing through?

In any case, you're quite right: it isn't always easy to know when lettuce in particular is ready to harvest. I've got a few that would be alright for Little Gem but I'm expecting them to be a round butterhead type. So, do I or don't I pick them...?

I'd follow Baldy's advice: pick some and give it a try. You could always try taking a few leaves rather than the whole plant.

[baps]

Thanks guys, we'll try munching a leaf or two and see. That's the only one with a flower out of the bunch so perhaps the others aren't too late. Not a real salad fan anyway, but girlfriend will be able to tell if it's nice or not!

These were all planted at the same time as other varieties of lettuce, is it likely they're ready too? They're a bit holey with slug attacks, but guessing they're still good to eat. Can provide pics of that helps.

Pretty sure it's not a weed, been pulling up anything that's not lettucy looking! Very much looks to me like it's coming from the main trunk bit of the plant (whatever you call that!).

Thanks again,

Baps.

[Penellype]

You can eat lettuce at any point from microgreen stage (2 seed leaves and a bud) upwards, but as has been mentioned, if they start to grow taller with stem visible between the leaves and a flower bud forming they can become bitter. It really depends what you want to eat as to when you harvest them. I can never eat a whole hearted lettuce myself in one go so I tend to pull off the larger leaves as they grow and eat those, leaving the smaller ones to grow on for next time. Eventually the plant gets tired and forms a flower anyway, so I throw it away and move on. Sometimes, if I have grown too many seedlings I leave the surplus in their original pot, all crowded together, and then eat them whole as baby leaves. Lettuces are very versatile, but they don't care for hot weather and it can make them bolt.

[baps]

Ate a few leaves to try them. Taste like rocket. Tried the other lettuces as well, there's a lollo rossa (I think that's what it is!) that's really nice.

Thanks guys, will have to go read up on the whole harvesting aspect now.

Baps.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Baps and welcome! I like fried eggs in mine
The flower doesn't look like a lettuce flower. Rocket flowers have 4 petals and are yellow with a brown streak down each petal (this is from memory so I could be confused - as usual).
You could nip off the flower stalk and see if more grow. The leaves should be OK to eat anyway.

[baps]

Will do. If it's not from the lettuce that's one sneaky weed!

Baps.

[Nicos]

Hi there, and welcome to the Vine baps.
Healthy looking plants...well done!

[baps]

Thanks for all the welcomes, you're a friendly bunch!

Tried to get a picture of the flower stem, not sure if you can really see the stem there, but surely that's coming from the lettuce? Noticed another had popped a flower this morning too. Same type so gotta be the lettuces flowering.

Flowers appearing on my peas too so have to go read up on peas now.

Baps.

[veggiechicken]

Maybe??? some kind of wild rocket flower?

Flowers on peas is Good! No worries there

[Snoop Puss]

Diplotaxis Tenuifolia?

[baps]

Diplotaxis Tenuifolia?

Actually doesn't look far off that but the flower stem is nowhere near that elaborate. Have to say I'm not much of a fan of rocket anyway, but someone will eat it!

Baps.

[Snoop Puss]

Rocket gives me stomach ache!