Salad picking – the outer leaves

[chrisParticipant]

Hey Charles – I have your book on salad greens and have been picking the outer leaves of a few lettuces with great success last year on a trial bed. I enjoy this way of harvesting. I am a market gardener on a 1/4 acre, so I would like to be more efficient at this technique. Is there any advice early in the season when the plants are smaller? How long do you wait to do your first pick? I have damaged a couple young plants and taken a few out this year. Do you generally do a first sweep and get rid of the bottom dead leaves when they are young? Thanks Charles.

[charlesModerator]

See gull best wait until leaves are touching for plants at 9-10″/22-25cm
Yes the first pick is hardest and there are yellow, reject leaves below the good ones
Every successive pick is easier and quicker
Happy harvests

[chrisParticipant]

Thanks for the advice Charles. Do you find that slugs are issues on those bottom leaves initially? I’m just worried about having rotted leaves that close to the ground.

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