Usually, all those failures that haunt us in the garden are caused by ourselves, that is, somewhere we will do something wrong, overlook or even forget to do it. And from this the plant does not receive the care it needs, and therefore their fruits and taste can be completely bad. Here, the lettuce has no fruits, but leaves.
- One of the reasons for the bitterness of leaf lettuce is that you watered it poorly (when it was actively growing), that is, there was not enough water for it. This is often why he gets angry.
- It is possible that you didn’t make a mistake with watering and watered the salad correctly, but they didn’t remove it during the time. If this is the case, then the lettuce leaves begin to slowly coarsen and bitterness appears again. So only cut the lettuce at the right time if you don't want to eat the bitter leaves. It will take 4-50 days after its sowing and it will need to be cut off. Usually at this time there are already 5 or 7 leaves on the leaf lettuce. It is in this phase that it needs to be cut. In order for the very moment of leaf ripening to come a little later, the garden bed will need to be thinned out. When shoots appear, then all of them should not be left. You should have 5-6 centimeters between adjacent shoots of lettuce. Everything else is just thrown away. When lettuce grows freely like this, it ripens later and, accordingly, the appearance of bitterness can also be postponed.
- In addition, it is usually in green lettuce that bitterness appears, so you can experiment with varieties and plant several of them. Also, if the beds with lettuce are constantly lit by the sun, then the appearance of bitterness in the leaves is also quite possible. It is better to shade the beds, or sometimes change the location of these beds.
What to do if the lettuce leaves are still bitter?
It is possible that you have already made some mistakes, and you did not manage to save lettuce leaves from bitterness this year. What to do then? Everything, just throw out the whole crop?
- You will always have time to throw away this “inedible” greenery, but you should not rush here. It is quite possible to get rid of this bitterness.
- To remove bitterness, cut off all the roots of lettuce leaves. Then the leaves themselves are thoroughly washed and placed in a saucepan. You should already have salted water in this pot. For her, you only need a tablespoon of plain salt per liter of water. In addition to salt, you will need to throw a few ordinary ice cubes into this water, which many people have in molds in the freezer. Wait about half an hour, and then you can get the leaves out of this water. Then we blot them gently with a paper towel, and then dry them for about five minutes. Then you can use these leaves for various dishes.
- If you still have enough time before the start of collecting lettuce leaves, and they are already bitter, then you can try to drive all this bitterness away from the leaves themselves, namely into the roots. To achieve this, the bundles are simply placed in an ankh where cold water is first poured. Let them stand there for 2 or even 3 hours. After that, we take out the bunches and, again, cut off all the roots. It would also be better to cut out the stems themselves in the leaves, especially if these stems are thick. So you will generally have only the most delicious and tender parts of the leaves, which will no longer be bitter.
Those who grow in their area leaf salad, know that sometimes its leaves are bitter. However, this happens not only with salad. A similar problem haunts one of the vegetables most beloved by our gardeners - cucumber. we used to talk too. Now let's deal with the salad. After all, it was not in vain that you raised it, you need to know the reasons why it turned out bitter for you, in order to prevent this later and grow a sweet leaf lettuce.
If the salad is bitter. Main reasons
Usually, all those failures that haunt us are caused by ourselves, that is, somewhere we will do something wrong, overlook or even forget to do it. And from this the plant does not receive the care it needs, and therefore their fruits and taste can be completely bad. Here, the lettuce has no fruits, but leaves.
- One of the reasons for the bitterness of leaf lettuce is that you did it badly (when it was actively growing), that is, there was not enough water for it. This is often why he gets angry.
- It is possible that you didn’t make a mistake with watering and watered the salad correctly, but they didn’t remove it during the time. If this is the case, then the lettuce leaves begin to slowly coarsen and bitterness appears again. So only cut the lettuce at the right time if you don't want to eat the bitter leaves. It will take 4-50 days after its sowing and it will need to be cut off. Usually at this time there are already 5 or 7 leaves on the leaf lettuce. It is in this phase that it needs to be cut. In order for the very moment of leaf ripening to come a little later, the garden bed will need to be thinned out. When shoots appear, then all of them should not be left. You should have 5-6 centimeters between adjacent shoots of lettuce. Everything else is just thrown away. When lettuce grows freely like this, it ripens later and, accordingly, the appearance of bitterness can also be postponed.
- In addition, it is usually in green lettuce that bitterness appears, so you can experiment with varieties and plant several of them. Also, if the beds with lettuce are constantly lit by the sun, then the appearance of bitterness in the leaves is also quite possible. It is better to shade the beds, or sometimes change the location of these beds.
What to do if the lettuce leaves are still bitter?
It is possible that you have already made some mistakes, and you did not manage to save lettuce leaves from bitterness this year. What to do then? Everything, just throw out the whole crop?
- You will always have time to throw away this “inedible” greenery, but you should not rush here. It is quite possible to get rid of this bitterness.
- To remove bitterness, cut off all the roots of lettuce leaves. Then the leaves themselves are thoroughly washed and placed in a saucepan. You should already have salted water in this one. For her, you only need a tablespoon of plain salt per liter of water. In addition to salt, you will need to throw a few ordinary ones into this water, which many people have in molds, in the freezer. Wait about half an hour, and then you can get the leaves out of this water. Then we blot them gently with a paper towel, and then dry them for about five minutes. Then you can use these leaves for various dishes.
- If you still have enough time before the start of collecting lettuce leaves, and they are already bitter, then you can try to drive all this bitterness away from the leaves themselves, namely into the roots. To achieve this, the bundles are simply placed in where cold water is first poured. Let them stand there for 2 or even 3 hours. After that, we take out the bunches and, again, cut off all the roots. It would also be better to cut out the stems themselves in the leaves, especially if these stems are thick. So you will generally have only the most delicious and tender parts of the leaves, which will no longer be bitter.
And so that your mistakes when growing it do not become the cause of the bitterness of the salad, be sure to watch this video. Here you will be told the basic subtleties of its cultivation and care. We look.
P.S. If the article was useful to you, please share it with your friends in in social networks. I will be very grateful to you.
Those who grow lettuce in their area know that sometimes its leaves are bitter. However, this happens not only with salad. A similar problem haunts one of the vegetables most beloved by our gardeners - cucumber. Why cucumbers are bitter, we also once said. Now let's deal with the salad. After all, it was not in vain that you raised him, you need to know the reasons why you turned out bitter in order to prevent this later.
If the salad is bitter. Main reasons
Usually, all those failures that haunt us in the garden are caused by ourselves, that is, we will do something wrong somewhere, overlook or even forget to do it. And from this the plant does not receive the care it needs, and therefore their fruits and taste can be completely bad. Here, the lettuce has no fruits, but leaves.
One of the reasons for the bitterness of leaf lettuce is that you watered it poorly (when it was actively growing), that is, there was not enough water for it. This is often why he gets angry.
It is possible that you didn’t make a mistake with watering and watered the salad correctly, but they didn’t remove it during the time. If this is the case, then the lettuce leaves begin to slowly coarsen and bitterness appears again. So only cut the lettuce at the right time if you don't want to eat the bitter leaves. It will take 4-50 days after its sowing and it will need to be cut off. Usually at this time there are already 5 or 7 leaves on the leaf lettuce. It is in this phase that it needs to be cut. In order for the very moment of leaf ripening to come a little later, the garden bed will need to be thinned out. When shoots appear, then all of them should not be left. You should have 5-6 centimeters between adjacent shoots of lettuce. Everything else is just thrown away. When lettuce grows freely like this, it ripens later and, accordingly, the appearance of bitterness can also be postponed.
In addition, it is usually in green lettuce that bitterness appears, so you can experiment with varieties and plant several of them. Also, if the beds with lettuce are constantly lit by the sun, then the appearance of bitterness in the leaves is also quite possible. It is better to shade the beds, or sometimes change the location of these beds.
What to do if the lettuce leaves are still bitter?
It is possible that you have already made some mistakes, and you did not manage to save lettuce leaves from bitterness this year. What to do then? Everything, just throw out the whole crop?
You will always have time to throw away this “inedible” greenery, but you should not rush here. It is quite possible to get rid of this bitterness.
To remove bitterness, cut off all the roots of lettuce leaves. Then the leaves themselves are thoroughly washed and placed in a saucepan. You should already have salted water in this pot. For her, you only need a tablespoon of plain salt per liter of water. In addition to salt, you will need to throw a few ordinary ice cubes into this water, which many people have in molds in the freezer. Wait about half an hour, and then you can get the leaves out of this water. Then we blot them gently with a paper towel, and then dry them for about five minutes. Then you can use these leaves for various dishes.
If you still have enough time before the start of collecting lettuce leaves, and they are already bitter, then you can try to drive all this bitterness away from the leaves themselves, namely into the roots. To achieve this, the bundles are simply placed in a jar, where cold water is first poured. Let them stand there for 2 or even 3 hours. After that, we take out the bunches and, again, cut off all the roots. It would also be better to cut out the stems themselves in the leaves, especially if these stems are thick. So you will generally have only the most delicious and tender parts of the leaves, which will no longer be bitter.
And so that your mistakes when growing it do not become the cause of the bitterness of the salad, be sure to watch this video. Here you will be told the basic subtleties of its cultivation and care. We look.
Share this important information with your friends on social networks!
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Why is lettuce bitter? Why is lettuce bitter?
- the greens were overexposed (it is better to sow the salad in several stages with an interval of 2 weeks);
- too much sun (the most favorable conditions are partial shade);
- insufficient watering (greens love a lot of moisture).
Surely everyone who grows lettuce in their beds has come across that lettuce leaves become bitter over time. That's it WITH TIME. This is the main reason why lettuce leaves are bitter. The more the salad lingers in the garden, the more it begins to taste bitter.
Hence the conclusion: lettuce should be consumed while it is young, and in order to have fresh produce all the time, it must be planted at intervals of 2-3 weeks. But also throw away old lettuce should not always sometimes bitterness can be removed (see here).
But lettuce's age isn't the only reason for its bitterness. Often we ourselves help him to acquire inedible qualities with inappropriate care. For example, poor watering at the time when he was gaining weight, actively growing, and not enough water was given.
If lettuce plantings are placed in places constantly lit by the sun, then it begins to taste bitter earlier than those that are shaded during periods of the hottest sun.
Another reason for bitterness due to improper agricultural practices is thickened plantings. Be sure to follow the recommendations for placing lettuce in the garden, printed on the package with seeds.
And finally, often the taste of a salad depends on its variety. The properties of the salad are also described on the packaging.
I plant lettuce every year, although, to be honest, I don’t know why. We hardly eat it, so it almost stays with us in the garden. Usually I plant purple curly among other plantings, it decorates the garden bed, standing out in color among the greenery. Since we don’t eat it much, I know that if you don’t pick it in time, then it will start to taste bitter. The bitterness in the salad is a sure sign that he has sat too long in the garden. Therefore, it is recommended to plant it several times during the summer, so that it is always fresh and tasty.
Leaf lettuce begins to taste bitter when it outgrows so that it is always fresh lettuce leaves, it must be sown at intervals of a couple of weeks. It is good to grow head lettuce, it forms a small loose head, the leaves are very tasty, crispy, sweet. Such a salad, after the plants sprout and grow a little, must be threaded, leaving 8-10 centimeters between each plant. The uprooted plants can be eaten like regular lettuce leaves. I always plant iceberg lettuce early. Eat modern varieties lettuces that are less bitter, I plant Lolo Rosa and Lolo Bienda. Lettuce may start to taste bitter due to poor watering, the plant is moisture-loving and does not like this plant too much sun. it is best grown in partial shade.
I've only tried a salad once. Then we bought seeds and planted them. It grew beautiful and green. I don't remember what it tasted like, but it was nice.
Then they forgot about him. They didn’t water it, but in general it rained very often then, but the salad tasted unbearably bitter. It seems that it can only be eaten when it is still young, or it is due to improper care.
For example, cucumbers are bitter due to insufficient watering.
It is better to plant really little by little and with a weekly difference. To eat had time and did not overgrow.
Bitterness appears in the salad with age, therefore, it must be sown at several times, collecting only the earliest leaves. A possible cause of bitterness may be lack of moisture at the time of its active growth. If you made mistakes in watering, then it grew without enough water, which led to bitterness.
Another possible reason for the bitterness of lettuce leaves may be the wrong place for the salad. If he stays all day under the open sun, bitterness may appear. It is better if the beds with these plants are part of the daytime in the shadow, and if this is not possible, then the salad should be shaded.
As practice shows, leaf lettuce begins to bitter over time, that is, bitter, for example, lettuce leaves that bloom. That is why it is recommended to plant lettuce several times a season so that there is always fresh greens on your table.
The salad may also start to taste bitter due to insufficient watering, and the salad is very demanding for watering.
Lettuce leaves have become bitter only for one simple reason, they have outgrown the edibility phase, it lasts a certain period, then the leaves begin to outgrow and bitterness appears, and then in general the lettuce goes into the phase of flowering and seed ripening. Therefore, lettuce is sown in several stages with a difference of 7- 10 days, the only way to get young lettuce.
If the salad began to taste bitter, then this may be due to several reasons:
Juicy and crispy salad like to grow on their site, many summer residents. With the right agricultural technology, you can get a good harvest several times a season.
Lettuce is demanding on soil, watering and lighting. Lettuce is planted on loose soft soils, after applying fertilizer. Immediately after the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to water the lettuce beds every other day, and when the outlet is actively forming, it is necessary to organize abundant watering. Lettuce is best planted in partial shade, in shady areas and under the scorching sun, it will not be able to develop properly, which means it will not be so tasty and healthy. Lettuce also develops poorly in cramped conditions. For full growth between plants, it is necessary to maintain a distance of 15-20 cm. Space is especially important for head salads, so seedlings need to be thinned out.
All types of lettuce contain a large number of fibre, vitamins and minerals. Lettuce is a champion among vegetables in terms of vitamin K content, it also contains vitamins C, A, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, iron, iodine, zinc. At the same time, the salad is low-calorie: 100 g contains only 12-14 kcal.
There is a wide variety of varieties of salads, all of them are divided into head and leaf. Most varieties have a delicate spicy taste, but salads with bitterness are not uncommon.
Causes of bitterness of lettuce leaves
- Sort. Salad varieties: Iceberg, Romaine, Moscow Greenhouse, Ballet, Zabava - crispy, juicy and without bitterness. The leaves of such varieties as: Frisse, Radichio, Lolo Rossa, Arugula, Watercress are slightly bitter.
- Age. Young lettuce has a mild taste. Overgrown lettuce has a more pronounced grassy taste, is able to accumulate in its leaves a small amount of alkaloid lactucine. Its presence can be determined by the milky juice at the break and bitterness in taste. Alkaloids are part of many drugs, and in nature they are found in the family of poppy, nightshade, legumes, ranunculus.
- Season. In the spring, even varieties with bitterness will pleasant taste. In summer, especially in hot sunny weather, the leaves quickly accumulate bitterness.
Many believe that the cause of bitterness is insufficient watering of the salad. Practice shows that watering is more important for the growth and formation of the plant, and almost does not affect the taste.
What to do if lettuce leaves are bitter
- Choose varieties without bitterness.
- Under the influence of direct sunlight, lettuce leaves quickly accumulate bitterness, so it is better to place the beds in partial shade or between rows.
- A week before harvesting the lettuce, cover the plant with a thick cloth to protect it from the sun. This method will allow you to get rid of the bitterness characteristic of many varieties.
- Collect lettuce in the early morning, preferably before sunrise. At this time, the salad has a more delicate taste.
- When collecting young lettuce leaves, make sure that the lettuce does not outgrow, does not release arrows. Lettuce can be planted throughout the summer season with an interval of 2-3 weeks, although spring plantings will still be the least bitter.
- To get rid of bitterness, you need to hold the leaves, preferably together with the roots, in cold water. For varieties with thin delicate greens, a dry method is suitable: cover the leaves with salt for 15-20 minutes, then rinse.
- Eating lettuce with bitter leaves will not harm your health. If you want to soften the bitter taste, mix the leaves with cottage cheese, feta or ricotta, eggs, yogurt or sour cream.
