sowing Lettuce!

Nozebleed · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:43 pm Post subject: sowing Lettuce!

How do you guy's sow lettuce seeds? do you sow a long row and then thin out? i was going to do that today but thought it a waste of seed..so i just place 5-6 seed about 8inches apart. whats the best way of sowing letttuce seed?

forest flame · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:28 pm Post subject:

hi nosebleed
personally i would sow the seeds in a seed tray or plug tray and transplant into the bed in a few weeks

Nozebleed · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:31 pm Post subject:

yeah..i agree thats probably the best thing to do. i might do that now!

davidh · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:47 pm Post subject:

I agree. Done mine a few weeks ago into cellular trays. They are now in the raised beds in the greenhouse along with some toms. Trays give you a bit more control of your crop.

sirpsycho · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 11:28 am Post subject:

I read a blog recently were the guy sows direct into the ground and has good results.
http://www.allotment-diary.co.uk/April-allotment-diary-veg-growing-blog.html

I usually sow mine into trays and then transplant. Might give the direct sowing a go this year.

Maeve Drogheda · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:22 pm Post subject:

I grow my lettuce directly into a large square tub in the greenhouse. I grow salad bowl mix, the you can cut and eat and it will grown again, so it lasts the whole summer and does not need to be thinned out.

This year I am trying the lollo rossa lettuce the same way. I was able to cut some lettuce yesterday for a nice salad.

michael brenock · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:13 pm Post subject:

transplanted lettuces produce smaller but earlier crops than those sown direct and thinned out. Always water the seedlings before thinning out and transplanting.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

fontodi · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:31 pm Post subject: sowing Lettuce!

I only found out recently that lettuce germinates best if it is cold when you sow the seeds so you shouldnt sow in the middle of a hot day. I have mine under plastic in a raised bed and they seem to be doing well so far.

Maeve Drogheda · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:14 am Post subject:

Thanks for the tip re watering before thinning seedlings. Is this the same for all seedlings Michael.

michael brenock · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:56 pm Post subject:

one other little oddity about lettuce is that if there is a lot of Nitrogen in the soil it slows down germination or can suppress it completely
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)