Lettuce gone bitter doesn\'t need to go in the compost bin. But don’t be in such a hurry to pull up your lettuce when that happens. Why is my hydroponic lettuce bitter? This is the lettuce originally used when the Caesar salad was created. Yes, we all know that lettuce is the foundation of most salads, but c’mon — lettuce has so much more to give! Which means that in the center of the lettuce the flower stalk comes up and that tells you that the lettuce has gone too far. Troubleshooting. So how do you avoid growing bitter tasting lettuce in your garden? I love that you don’t have to use up a whole head at once — one head in the crisper drawer can be used in so many different ways over the course of days, so you won’t ever feel like you’re eating the same thing over and over again. Lettuce gone bitter doesn't mean you have to throw it in the compost bin. That is when the lettuce bolts. There’s nothing like the sweet taste of early spring lettuce. Instead, it can make a great alternative to cooked silverbeet or spinach. Lettuce, of course, is a cool weather crop. I've been buying good lettuce recently and have been storing them in the fridge in a water bath. Here are five things to do with bolted lettuce. This way the lettuce stays in good shape and I prepare some salads. In fact, it's often called Italian chicory because of its prominent position in Italian cooking. That said, lettuce is a cool-weather crop, and once the warm temperatures and long days of summer arrive, lettuce plants go to flower and set seed. Do you know why … Here are some tips for minimising bitter lettuce and what to do with it if it does go bitter. 7Shares Probably the most frequent complaint about “homegrown” lettuce is that it is bitter. Iceberg lettuce contains the vital nutrients vitamin A and potassium along with trace amounts of fiber and protein. The type of lettuce you choose to grow also plays a part in the resistance to bitter flavors. • We usually have a hard time eating a larger head of lettuce before it spoils. That is, it grows a very tall stem which produces flowers (lettuce with yellow flowers is going to have bitter-tasting leaves), and subsequently, seeds. Spinach, collard greens, turnip, and mustard greens are all fiber-boosting bitter … So how do you avoid growing bitter tasting lettuce in your garden? This is because insects won’t get very far through the hard, dense leaves. Well, I’m determined to do something with it… will try a Saag Paneer sometime next week, but in the meantime, I’m throwing the stuff into my blender by the handful… it’s actually pretty good! What to Do with Bitter Lettuce Whenever I have a head of lettuce that's over-grown, bitter, or end-of-season, I try to work with it's woodiness instead of disguise it. Radicchio, the bitter vegetable that is often mistaken for colorful lettuce or red cabbage, is actually a type of chicory. Here are some tips for minimising bitter lettuce and what to do with it if it does go bitter. Variety Selection. Learn more about Wild Lettuce uses, effectiveness, possible side effects, interactions, dosage, user ratings and products that contain Wild Lettuce It is grown as a cool-weather vegetable, thriving when the temperature stays between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. See more ideas about Bitter lettuce, Herbalism and Natural medicine. I love that you don’t have to use up a whole head at once — one head in the crisper drawer can be used in so many different ways over the course of days, so you won’t ever feel like you’re eating the same thing over and over again. Mulch the … Or, you can marinade it with a rich dressing. Leaf lettuce is characterized by leaves grown from the stem, rather than in tightly packed heads.