Sowing Lettuce seeds

Sheps · March 2023

Morning all...I've just sowed some lettuce seed in a unheated propagator and was wondering if the unheated greenhouse would be a better place to germinate than a south facing windowsill?

Also, do you think I will have to water between now and germination?

Cheers

scroggin · March 2023

In my experience lettuce germinates better in cool conditions. I've just sown mine in module trays in an unheated greenhouse . Later sowings are sown direct.

Plantminded · March 2023

I sowed some on Thursday in an unheated propagator, kept on a windowsill in a utility room which has a radiator set on low. I watered the compost lightly after sowing, they've germinated today!

Sheps · March 2023

Thanks @scroggin and @Plantminded I was worried both positions might get too hot?

It's about 25⁰c in the greenhouse and the thermometer on the windowsill says 35⁰c is this too warm?

scroggin · March 2023

@Sheps, I would go for the greenhouse if it was me. One thing to mention is the seed doesn't keep once the packet is opened, use it all in the same season.

Sheps · March 2023

Thanks @scroggin will do and see how they go, I can always sow some more if they don't germinate.

Fairygirl · March 2023

That's incredibly hot! Lettuce doesn't need anything like those temps to germinate and grow. Even in your greenhouse that's hot. Don't cover them with anything if you're putting them out there - just sow in trays or pots.
They'll just get very leggy if they're too hot. It might be ok for a while if you're doing them as cut and come again, which is what I mostly do with the early sowings.
I'm about to sow some this week which will just be in pots in the kitchen. The highest temp my south east facing sills get to is around 19 when there's sun. The rest of the time it varies from around 11 or 12 to about 15 or 16. That's plenty warm enough for them to germinate and grow inside.
Later sowings will either be done outdoors or the growhouse, depending on when I do them.

Sheps · March 2023

Thanks @Fairygirl greenhouse is now saying 20⁰c so coming down nicely.

I will remove the propagator lid and see how they go.

First time sowing seeds of any variety, so a bit of a learning curve.

Fairygirl · March 2023

Lettuce does better with cooler conditions @Sheps, as @scroggin says.
It's inclined to bolt if it's too hot, so when you have them outdoors, pick a spot that gets a bit of relief from mid day sun.

I put some in a trough or pot [slug fodder otherwise] and because my back garden is pretty sunny, I tuck them in behind my bench which just gives them a bit of shade, but is still handy for cropping if it's chucking it down!
I saved seed from one variety two years ago, and it did very well last year, so it's worth leaving one plant for that purpose if you fancy it.
It doesn't seem to keep very well as scroggin says. Someone mentioned that to me a few years ago, and it hadn't crossed my mind until then that it was a bit short lived. I don't use anything like the amount some people would, so I tended to keep it. I got a good few years out of a packet though

Sheps · March 2023

Thanks @Fairygirl yes, the raised beds are at the base of a westward facing fence, so sunshine up to about midday, then shaded as the temperature starts to rise in the afternoon.

war garden 572 · March 2023

the secret to summer lettuce is limiting the day length with shade during the
summer. even it the temperature gets over 85 F. there are also summer
heat resistant varieties. the day length limit is 8 hours.

Sowing Lettuce seeds

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