My lettuce was bitter, why?

RubyLeaf

Grew some Lettuce (little gem) this year for the first time. But the leaves were so bitter! Did I harvest too soon? If it helps the leaves, whilst big, were still growing partially upright.

Fairygirl

Hi Ruby - like many plants of that type, once they go beyond their ideal size, the flavour changes. Little Gem is a small variety, so they need harvested while they're small, but they will keep on growing if left unpicked.

It can also happens when plants start to bolt - they're concentrating on producing that flower and seed, so the leaves change in flavour. Were they showing signs of having a flower stem?

RubyLeaf

Fairygirl says:

Hi Ruby - like many plants of that type, once they go beyond their ideal size, the flavour changes. Little Gem is a small variety, so they need harvested while they're small, but they will keep on growing if left unpicked.

It can also happens when plants start to bolt - they're concentrating on producing that flower and seed, so the leaves change in flavour. Were they showing signs of having a flower stem?

See original post

 No I didn't see the flower stem. What is the ideal size for this particular lettuce? I want to try again next year

Hostafan1

if they're allowed to dry out at any point, it can make them bitter.