How should I store my living lettuce?

How to store living lettuce to keep it fresh for longer

You’ve just bought a head of fresh, living lettuce from the store – or better yet, you’ve grown it yourself in your Les Verts Terrace™ Indoor Garden and want to remove it from the system or share it with a friend. How do you store it to keep it fresh for as long as possible?

Follow our Living Lettuce Freshness Guide below for everything you need to know.

How should I store my living lettuce?

The best way to keep your living lettuce fresh and flavourful is to place the whole plant in a waterproof tray or shallow dish in the refrigerator. Sometimes fridge space can be limited though, so finding a spot on your counter (in either a sunny or shady area) is another option. Your living lettuce should retain its beautiful colour and texture for up to two weeks, provided it’s watered. Remember that your lettuce plant is living, so changes in its appearance due to the new environment are normal.

Should I water my living lettuce?

Yes! Your lettuce is a living plant that requires water to maintain its freshness. Water when the bottom leaves start to go limp to maintain crispness. Simply place the lettuce plant in a bowl or shallow dish when you notice wilting and add enough water to cover the bottom half of the block or growing medium. You can remove the plants after 20 minutes or, if the plant was growing using our stone wool growing media, simply leave them in the container. Stone wool growing blocks are uniquely designed to both absorb moisture and prevent water excess, so you don’t need to worry about overwatering.

Which leaves should I eat first?

If you are storing your plant intact, we suggest starting on the outer, more mature leaves and working your way to the centre. You can also choose to remove all the leaves right after harvest and store the leaves in the crisper of your refrigerator.

Should I wash my lettuce?

If you bought your plant from a store, it is always a good idea to wash produce before consuming in case pesticides or pathogens are present. We recommend rinsing under cool water and drying the leaves just prior to use to avoid wilting.

Note: if you grew your own lettuce in your Les Verts Terrace™ Indoor Garden, then your pesticide-free lettuce is at much lower risk. We still recommended giving it a quick rinse, but it’s entirely up to you.

Will my living lettuce plant regrow?

Even after several leaves are removed, your living lettuce may show some regrowth – it is a living plant after all. Depending on how much you’ve consumed and where you are storing your lettuce, regrowth of lettuce leaves will vary. You may notice that new leaves are not as vibrant in colour and don’t have the same growth pattern. They may grow only from the middle and often straight upwards. This is normal. It’s unlikely that the sunlight in your house is intense enough for full and proper regrowth of a complete head of lettuce. That’s what grow lights are for!

What to do with the blocks once they are used?

If the block that your living lettuce is grown in is made of stone wool, it cannot be composted. However, it can be broken down into small pieces and scattered in your outdoor garden to help with water retention. Gloves are recommended when handling the stone wool. The cubes can also be recycled in certain locations – check with your local recycling facilities for more information. Otherwise, they can be disposed of in the garbage.

How can I grow my own living lettuce?

Growing your own lettuce is easy in the Les Verts Terrace™ Indoor Garden. The Les Verts Terrace is a complete hydroponic garden system that makes it easy for anyone, even beginners, to grow professional quality lettuce, herbs, microgreens, tomatoes, peppers and more – all year round.

Learn more about what you can grow, and hear what our customers are saying.