HOW TO PICK VEGETABLES 



Most people prefer the first named because the 

 tightly curled leaves in the center are light in color 

 (because they have not seen the sun), and are 

 usually very crisp and tender. 



If you have head lettuce, press the center gently 

 to see whether it is hard or not. If it is soft like 

 a rubber ball you will know it needs to grow a little 

 longer. When the center is firm, the lettuce is 

 ready to pick. Use a sharp knife and cut the stem 

 of the plant just where it comes out of the ground; 

 or take the head in both hands, gather all the leaves 

 up carefully, placing both hands under the head, 

 then twist until the whole root comes loose. Never 

 pull, for you are liable to break the crisp brittle 

 leaves. If you have loose leaf lettuce, you will know 

 it is ready to pick when the plant has grown large 

 and full in the center. 



Lettuce sometimes "goes to seed" before it is 

 really good to eat. That means the plant is so 

 anxious to make seed it sends up a blossom stalk 

 from the center before the leaves are ready to eat. 

 When the blossom stalk comes the leaves turn bit- 

 ter, and tough. The secret of growing good lettuce 

 is much cultivation and enough water to keep it 

 growing fast all the time. Almost no lettuce will 

 do well during the heat of mid-summer so we grow 



133 



