Why is my lettuce brown on the edges?
The most common reason for browning on lettuce is a chemical process known as oxidation. Enzymes activated by cutting the leaves or stems produce compounds that result in brown stains, especially at the base or anywhere the leaves are damaged during harvest and storage.
How do you keep romaine lettuce from turning brown?
Rip the lettuce rather than cutting it. Ripping the romaine leaves will often damage and bruise the lettuce less than cutting it with a knife. Rip the lettuce into large chunks if you wish to store it for a longer period of time. This will cause less damage to the lettuce, preventing it from browning as quickly.
Does romaine lettuce like sun or shade?
Light requirements: Full sun to part shade. Protect plants from strong spring or afternoon sun in warmest regions. Planting: Space 6 to 18 inches apart, depending on lettuce type. (Read the stick tag that comes with the plant for specific spacing recommendations.)
Can you eat lettuce with brown edges?
A-The brown spots on lettuce may be cosmetically undesirable, but they do not make the lettuce unsafe to eat. The spots may be the result of a high storage temperature. Lettuce should be stored at a fairly low temperature in an airtight container.
What does bad romaine lettuce look like?
How to tell if romaine lettuce is bad or spoiled? Romaine lettuce that is spoiling will typically become slimy and mushy and its color will deteriorate; discard romaine lettuce if it has an off smell or appearance.
Is it safe to eat lettuce that is turning brown?
You can eat brown lettuce, sometimes This is because these fruits give off high levels of the gas ethylene which speeds up the ripening process. Now, it’s important to note, that if the lettuce is slimy or has begun to grow mold, it should most certainly be tossed out — brown spots or no brown spots (via Livestrong).
Does cutting lettuce with a knife turn it brown?
If you believe your lettuce stays fresher longer when you cut it with a plastic knife, the truth is, it produces the same outcome as using a metal knife. Exposing the inside of a head of lettuce to oxygen is going to hasten its breakdown, whether you cut it with plastic, metal or a laser beam. It’s going to turn brown.
How often should I water my romaine lettuce?
ANSWER: Lettuce should be watered not daily but instead about twice a week, or once every four or five days, for most of its growing period. It will need to be watered lightly but more frequently for the first two weeks after planting, perhaps daily, depending on your climate.
How do you maintain romaine lettuce?
Romaine and other varieties require full sun planting where the temperatures are cooler, but for moderate regions it can be planted in partial shade or shade areas. Another tip is to plant romaine in intervals–about 10 days between plantings–to keep a supply of lettuce throughout the growing season.
Why are the ends of my romaine lettuce turning brown?
You can prevent the lettuce from turning brown, though. The reason that cut or torn lettuce turns brown is due to oxidation. This is the same process that turns bare iron to rust and it is the same cause of tarnished silver, copper, and so forth. In fact, fire is very rapid oxidation.
Why do I have russet spots on my Lettuce?
According to the Postharvest Center at the University of California, russet spotting occurs because of exposure to low concentrations of a gas called ethylene. This exposure might happen for a variety of reasons, including transportation in mixed loads, or even close proximity to ethylene-generating fruits like apples in storage.
Why are there brown spots on my iceberg lettuce?
According to the scientific journal Plant Physiology, these strange-looking marks are known as “russet spotting.” A physiological disorder that may develop during postharvest transport and storage, russet spotting is particularly common in iceberg lettuce.
What kind of lettuce will get tipburn?
Generally young, maturing leaves in head and leaf lettuces become afflicted with tipburn. Leaf lettuce, butterhead, and endive are more susceptible to tipburn than crisphead varieties. What Causes Tipburn in Lettuce?