Keeping Lettuce Fresh

[curiosity]

We have had an allotment for about 6 months, and are just reaping the benefits (well with lettuce anyway) the lettuce is very tasty but the problem is, once picked and brought home it doesn't stay fresh for long, even in the fridge, well not as a supermarket bought one. Does anyone have any tips on how to keep it fresher for longer than the day it's picked?

[Clanad]

We've had good luck with our home grown leaf lettuce of washing it thoroughly, placing it in a gallon sized ziplok baggie along with a damp paper towel.  It keeps fresh in the refrigerator for about 4 or 5 days for us... Wokrs good for our celery as well...

[nfn]

i only fetch from my allottment what i need that day. Lettuce is a pain because how often do you eat a whole one in one go. I wash mine thoroughly and sprinkly a little sugar on the dried leaves. Pop it in a clean plastic bag and put it in the fridge. When I want it i just rinse the leaves and use. Works for me.

I have a problem with pheasant's on my allottment, how do you keep them off? They ignore noises

[_Louisa_]

Put it in a clean plastic bag in the fridge - usually works for me and keeps it fresh for a couple more days.

[woofgang]

stayfreshbags

Thes work on all kinds of fruit and veg and are reusable

[sandbach99]

NFN  Try hanging either old cd's or get some of the internet connection discs, the free ones from currys woolworths etc.     Hang these so they will swing, spin etc in the wind birds don't like the sudden flashes of light that these discs produce especially on sunny days

[jacey]

I expect you already now this, but for those who don't, never cut lettuce with a metal knife, use a plastic one,:-)

[jacey]

oops know*

[curiosity]

I didn't know that Jacey why is that? also nfn we don't tend to get pheasants in Middlesbrough, but we use string and CD's just as Sandbach99 suggests, they seem to work to keep the pidgeons away.

[nfn]

metal blades brown the lettuce. doesn't make a lot of difference to the stem but will make a HUGE difference to the leaves if you shred in chunks rather than remove leaves one by one.

CDs and other shiny things don't affect the pheasants unfortunately, they seem to come and destroy at dusk when the lights not good. I can't sit up there all day ready to run and wave my arms about and it's really starting to get me down. Everything except potatoes and broad beans seem to be on the menu!

[ritamargaret]

pick the lettuce and leave the rrt on then we put the lettuce in in a bucket with the root standing in water