Leafy Greens: How to Grow & Harvest

Learning how to harvest and prune leafy greens like lettuce is key to keeping your plants healthy, flavorful, and growing strong. This guide covers everything you need to know to care for leafy greens—from when to pick outer leaves to how to prevent overgrowth and leaf burn.

To enjoy your greens at their best:

• Wait until the leaves are full-sized but still tender—this gives you peak flavor and texture.

• Use the “cut-and-come-again” method: snip the outer leaves and leave the center untouched so the plant keeps growing.

• Don’t harvest more than one-third of the plant at a time to keep it strong and productive.

Healthy pruning helps your greens stay fresh and leafy, without taking over the whole plant wall.

• Remove any wilted, yellowed, or damaged leaves to keep the plant healthy.

• Thin out overcrowded areas now and then to improve airflow and prevent mold or disease.

• If your greens grow large enough to block light from nearby plants, trim back the outer leaves to avoid leaf burns—brown patches caused by light concentration or contact with the glass.

• Sprouting: Most varieties sprout in 5–15 days.

• Harvest ready: 30–45 days after planting.

• Lifespan: Expect about 10 weeks of good growth with regular care.

As your lettuce matures, you might notice tiny spines on the stems or smaller, tougher leaves—this is a sign the plant is starting to bolt (shift its focus to seed production). At this point, the taste may turn bitter, so it’s best to harvest the rest soon.

With a bit of regular attention, your leafy greens will keep rewarding you with fresh, delicious leaves—perfect for tossing into salads, sandwiches, or wraps whenever you need them.

Iceberg lettuce sprout in 5-15 days and begin harvesting within 35-45 days. With proper care, you'll enjoy fresh iceberg lettuce for up to 12 weeks.

Heritage romaine lettuce will sprout in 5-15 days and you can begin harvesting within 40-60 days. With proper care, you'll enjoy fresh lettuce for up to 8 weeks.

Pak Choi will sprout in 5-15 days and you can start harvesting in 20-40 days. With proper care, you’ll enjoy fresh Pak Choi for 4-8 weeks.

The Little gem romaine lettuce will sprout in 5-15 days and you can begin harvesting within 25-35 days. With proper care, you'll enjoy fresh Little Gem lettuce for up to 8 weeks.

Simpson lettuce will sprout in 5-15 days and you can start harvesting in 30-45 days. With proper care, you'll enjoy fresh leaves for up to 8 weeks.

Mangold will sprout in 10-20 days and you can start harvesting within 45-65 days. With proper care, you'll enjoy fresh chard for up to 8 weeks.

Kale will sprout in 7-14 days and you can start harvesting within 30-45 days. With proper care, you can enjoy fresh kale for up to 12 weeks.

Arugula will sprout within 5-15 days, and you can start harvesting your arugula leaves in about a month. With proper care, you’ll have fresh, spicy arugula for up to 12 weeks.