Lettuce.. too much like Cress or am i OK?

[DIG4VICTORY]

Well hello there lovely people of the Vine!

My Lettuce has started growing like the clappers and I was worried that they may have gone too much like cress to be successful…

Any chance you could advise that they are heading in the right direction?

These are from a mixed leaf salad seed

And at what point/size should they be when ready to be transplanted? Does anyone have a pic? Ive read the packet over and over but I learn better with visuals well, my Mum thinks i'm clever... ?!!?!? LOL

[Two_Sheds]

Gosh, they were sown thickly weren't they?

I would start by thinking how many lettuce plants you actually want, and then start culling down to that number.

then, transplant what you have left into cell trays or modules so they can grow on.

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I sow mine into individual cells, two per cell and thin out the weakest.

[DIG4VICTORY]

I KNOW?! Thats what i thought.. i swear i sowed them thinner than this?? I must have heavy hands!

Good Idea.. ok.. they are not too delicate at the mo to move then in to my modules are they?

Doh.. not a great start!

[Creemteez]

Hiya,
If they are from a salad leaf mixed pack, my advice would be to not try to thin them into singles, but transplant small clumps into three inch pots and grow them on a bit - untill they get some true leaves - then putting them (still in clumps) in the ground and using them as a cut and come again salad.
Only take a few leaves from the ouside of each clump.
My first sowing of this sort of mix did the "cress Thing" - too far from the light, and I seriously considered binning it and starting again. However, since I'd sown into modules ( somewhat more thinly than yourself!) I bunged them out into my mini green house, and three weeks on I planted them out in a fend for yourself sort of fashion. I should be able to pick baby leaves in a couple of weeks.
Yes, next time, sow into modules (only tip four or five seeds into your hand first - that way you cannot over sow) and make sure that they are in a good source of daylight.
Bon Chance!

[DaveInBraknell]

Looks like something similar to what I did once..

Advice get a pair of scissors and start snipping, leaving a bunch or so in place see how they go then pick the strongest..


Cruel to be kind

[zazen999]

I'd leave them for a fair while yet...when I sow into seed trays I find they transplant better with a few more leaves and stronger roots....probably why I stopped using them and use modules as you can leave them longer before having to separate them.

[DIG4VICTORY]

Ha ha what a mess.. Ok.. will leave them for a week and see how they develop then move clumbs to thier own little pots..

I guess its all about trial and error eh? This.... DEF and error! ha ha

[gojiberry]

I notice that you have your seedling on a windowsill. This time of the year they will grow a lot better outside in an unheated greenhouse or a sheltered part of the garden. None of my lettuce is under cover at the moment and I have trays and trays of the various varieties.

Ian

[DIG4VICTORY]

I notice that you have your seedling on a windowsill. This time of the year they will grow a lot better outside in an unheated greenhouse or a sheltered part of the garden. None of my lettuce is under cover at the moment and I have trays and trays of the various varieties.

Ian

Ah ok.. thanks.. i have been putting them out in the day and bringing them in at night like an over protective mother! Will take on all your good advice..

'Lettuce' see how it goes! LOL

[Demeter]

Thin them out a bit soon though!
Remember when you thin you can eat the seedlings, bung them in a sandwich with some cheese or egg mayo or something

[elsie-scot]

At same time I sowed an oriental salad mix and cress seeds - and I thought I'd put the cress seeds in the pot as they looked like yours! They are now doing well and planted out in my salad bed.