Lettuces

[Barbara'nTom]

Why is it that the things that say easy to grow on the packet are the things that I find the most difficult???

Loads of lettuce seed in the ground in dappled shade cos I know they don't like the heat and under cloches to protect them and what happens only 2 or 3 germinate and promptly die!!

Does anyone have any words of wisdom?

Would I be better off germinating in trays/pots.

The Pak Choi is doing fine by the way.

[Digger-07]

I always start lettuce off in a cold frame using 12 cell trays and 3 or 4 seeds per cell. Thin the weakest out to leave one in each cell then transplant when they are about 3 inches tall and before the roots fill the cell.

You can get the final spacing right and if you sow a tray every couple of weeks you get crops following on.

[Alice]

B & T, I start my lettuce in trays or pots, then just plant out when they have their second set of leaves. I leave the spares just growing in the seed tray handy for the kitchen door and they get up to a useful size even from there.

[Mr Gummidge]

Hi, I use the same method as Digger...3 or 4 seeds in smallish modules then thin to strongest seedling. I plant mine out when they have 3 or 4 leaves. Sow 10 modules every fortnight/3 weeks.

[Flummery]

Cells again here! The only ones I sow directly are the very first of the year in the cold greenhouse border. Still picking those, as well as snipping the cut and come again mix I use. Too much temptation outside - birds, slugs, just about anything loves lettuce!

[Jo.T]

I've had many problems like you BarbaranTom - i've tried sowing outside - either don't come up or wither away. I've also planted in modules and planted out strong healthy plants and watched them disappear totally! This year (i'm determinted to find a way!) i've planted in modules and then plated those out into grow bags when strong 6 leaved plants - some still not great but so far some seem ok. I don't understand why referred to as 'easy to grow' - they are deinately the thing i've had most problems with!

[LostthePlot]

I too start off lettuce in pots/modules but I am going to experiment on the plot with a couple of bricks and some wood going across them to provide shade for direct sown lettuce to see if this will help them germinate at the required pace.

[witch-1]

I have also had problems - used a seed tray, in a mini-greenhouse... all going well then zilch! I did plant out the two remaining plants amongst my flowers - think they've actually taken on...

... now on second attempt with seed tray!

Good luck.

Jan
x

[Paulottie]

I agree with Alice I prefer to sow all lettuces in modules every fortnight. little and often. Can't be bothered to thin the things etc. Much better to just catch crop plantlets around the place. I find you've got a better chance of them not being grazed by snails and birds; and growing enough that you get a meal too! (sparrows pecking them can be irritating here). The heat when growing inside/cloched beyond spring just makes them bolt.

I am currently cropping outside with an excellent butterhead called 'Winter density' (Coaxed along with some fleece for a while.) And, a crop of little gem and a French variety called 'Rouge de grenobloise' just coming good in the greenhouse.

[Alice]

I'm gowing to post some pics tomorrow. The seeds sown in the trays - and still eating - and the plants sown out. I don't do anything special, just plant and eat.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Looking forward to seeing your pics, Alice - like you I just sow a few - but in short rows and use 'mixed' (King's from memory) and although you're supposed to cut and come again, I've been thinning whole plants and so it leaves the rest to 'breathe' and grow some more.

I did have a real germination 'issue' with some little gem earlier on (i.e. none came up!), but we concluded that it was because it wasn't this year's packet of seed.

[moggssue]

My first lot of webbs wonderful germinated fine in individual pots in a cloche but withered within a day of going into the garden. The second lot, in a bigger pot so no transplanting needed just thinning, seem to be doing fine so far. Exactly the same story with lollo rosso - maybe they dont like being replanted? I'm about to try a third lot directly into my plot to see what happens ...