If it says sow into ground...

[bramble]

Hmm, that's what I thought, i'll leave till next weekend and then look at the forecast

Ha, What a good decision, not just a pretty face then

[Suspect Sprout]

Hmm, how did you know?!

I can't believe it though as the lettuce is sprouting already!!! Some of the other pots, which haven't sprouted yet, look a bit dry, tempted to water, but might leave a few more days yet!

[Suspect Sprout]

er, nothinig else seems to be doing a lot, is this normal?

[nick the grief]

Depends what they are SS. Some seeds can take ages (well it seems like ages) then they will all come together. Just keep them moist.

[Suspect Sprout]

toms, cu, rads I think.

Trouble is, since i've first watered them the soil's gone caked like, and seems dry. I don't want to over water and drown the seeds, but the top layer of soil seems pretty dry.

So I gently forked the soil with a food fork and sprinkled some water over! Not sure if that's the right thing to do, since i've done it a couple of sweet pea's have started to surface!

[nick the grief]

It can happen sometimes SS, try covering the top of the pot with some plastic or cling film, then the moisture will keep the top damp. You can always stand the pot in a saucer of water for a bit to take up more if needed.

[sewer rat]

SS
Could be that your sweet peas and your other seeds were germinating and were just gathering strength to break through the compost crust when you broke it for them. Either way, breaking the crust will do no harm.

[Suspect Sprout]

I know this sounds dumb, but if the crust is fairly dry then underneath's going to be as well isn't it?

[Suspect Sprout]

Also, another thing, my lettuce seeds are growing like there's no tomorrow, they're about nearly 2 inches tall. When do I need to pot them on?

[Lesley Jay]

You could pot them on now. I normally transplant mine into seed trays ready for planting out.

[sewer rat]

SS
The crust will form on the top of your compost first as it is "open" to the air and heat, whereas the compost further down the pot is not. However, because the pots are small, the compost will dry out quuite quickly, and by the time you notice a crust on top, there's every chance that the rest of the pot will be too. Also because your seed compost consists of such fine particles, they do not hold onto moisture as much
The same applies to garden soil - if you rake it to a fine tilth, the top will dry out much quicker than the soil only an inch below.

[Suspect Sprout]

Ok, cheers all, since i've moved the crust and re-watered other's are now starting to poke through

Am going to move the lettuce seeds on. Into a seed tray is ok rather than 3 inch pots is it? Isn't a seed tray quite shallow like the cells?

[nick the grief]

you can use either SS there would be less root disturbance with a pot or cell when it come to planting out. (Wilko's a re good for cell paks if you only want a few & cheapo plastic pots too)

[Lesley Jay]

A seed tray is fine for lettuce plants. Save your 3 inch pots for tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, marrows and sweetcorn which all have a much bigger root system than lettuce. Then when the lettuce has grown on some more plant it outside.

[Suspect Sprout]

Thanks guys