Did I not pick my lettuce in time?

Question

Okay, so I decided to grow my own veggies and my lettuce was big and huge and I thought, I think it's ready but I'm not sure so I'll let it go a bit longer. Well, now my lettuce is really tall...and not really full and leafy....Did I mess up?

Answer 1

lettuce is usally picked when it has formed a firm head.

but that requires that the temperature be either cooler in the day, or that the temp drop some at night.

when it gets tall- it is too late. but you could consider using it in a stew.

Answer 2

Lettuce doesn't do well when it heats up, especially after the first day of summer when the days are getting shorter. This stimulates the plant to go to seed, where a large stalk grows up the middle of the plant very quickly, flowers, and produces seeds.

At this point, your lettuce leaves will start to become bitter and tough. So yes, you messed it up. You should have cut the head off of the lettuce at the first sign of the increased growth up the middle.

Answer 3

Lettuce is ready to pick about  when it is about 5 inches tall.I would go ahead and pick the rest before it goes bad.There are 2 kinds of lettuce,Leafy or the head lettuce,If the head lettuce is round and full it is ready to pick.

Answer 4

You can still eat it.

Its best when its younger and hasnt gone to seed yet.