Growing your own iceberg lettuce is a total game-changer. When you harvest it fresh from your backyard, it’s packed with way more nutrients and vitamins than the stuff that’s been sitting on a grocery store shelf for days. If you’re wondering exactly when to pick this garden favorite, here’s the lowdown.
Harvesting Iceberg Lettuce in the Summer
The exact timing for your harvest depends on the specific variety you’re growing, but generally, you’re looking at a window of two to three months after sowing your seeds. Most gardeners get their seeds in the ground around March or April, which means you’ll be tossing fresh salads by June or July. That said, there are also late-season varieties you can plant later in the summer to keep your harvest going well into the fall.
Now, don’t let the name “iceberg” fool you! You might think this lettuce is a winter warrior or needs a frost to taste good, but it’s actually the opposite. Iceberg lettuce isn’t hardy at all and really hates the frost. Once temperatures dip below 50°F (10°C), it starts to struggle. The name actually comes from the way it used to be transported on beds of ice, thanks to its impressive shelf life compared to other more delicate greens.