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Sowing Lettuce seeds

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  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Morning @Fairygirl we know it was a joke and that's all that matters, don't be drawn in by the comments 😉
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Oh I know only too well @Sheps. I was holding back from saying more - that was the polite response... ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    First leaves picked for a cheese and lettuce sandwich.

    Mmm...tasty 😋


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Brilliant @Sheps. You'll soon get through a load of them doing the cut and come again method.  ;)

    Joking apart, I bet you're thrilled though - it's very satisfying when you do something new, and you get success so quickly. Really pleased for you  :)
    I've split some of mine up now - into clumps in pots, and they're starting to grow on a bit more now. A wee bit behind you though, but I'm still in home made soup mode rather than salad sandwiches  :D  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Thank you very much @Fairygirl that's very sweet of you and without all the help and advice from yourself and @scroggin the results might have been different.

    I have to admit I'm very pleased, I know it's only lettuce 🥬 but as you know it's my first time growing anything from seed other than potatoes, so there is without doubt a sense of achievement.

    All I need to do now is get them planted out because they are all getting really big, but I'm a little nervous about the frosts on Monday and Tuesday night.

    I wonder if it's just nerves about cutting the apron strings and setting them free to grow on 😁


  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Just stop it @Sheps :D    My various salads are coming along nicely - I rarely have any trouble with those BUT the wretched lettuce ( Red salad bowl in this instance ) are proving to be a real PITA this time.  The really annoying thing is that they normally do well and easy to germinate so I wasn't expecting any problems. I've tried talking to those which have popped up (nicely and not so nicely !! ) but they just stare back  - I'm sure if they had produced any real leaves, they'd just stick 2 of them up at me ;)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited April 2023
    Those apron strings - it's exactly like the child's first day at school.... ;)
    I wouldn't worry too much about the frosts. At this time of year, they tend to be lighter and more short lived, so unless they were going somewhere very unsuitable, they should be fine. You may lose one or two, but they'll probably come away again.
    It might only be lettuce- but it doesn't matter. It's the principle  :)  

    Tell you what - I'll put some of mine in the gr'house overnight, where the temps get down to the same as  outdoors, and I'll report back. We've only had a few nights in the last 10 days that haven't been frost level, or actual frosts, so it hasn't been particularly great overnight at times, but it's been reasonable during the day  :)


    @philippasmith2 - are the seeds old? I couldn't get any lettuce to germinate well a few years ago, and I think it was @Allotment Boy that said lettuce seed doesn't keep so well. I bought new seed, and bingo! - job done  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • scrogginscroggin Posts: 437
    @Sheps, lettuce are much more tolerant of cold than heat, but you're right to be cautious as it would be a shame to lose any plants. If you have a cloche, I'd say that would safeguard your plants from the drop in overnight temps. My lettuce are a long way behind yours, my first sowing failed, it was fresh seed so no excuses, other seeds sown at the same time were fine, I must have upset the gardening gods😂. The second sowing is doing well and have been outside day and night for a week or so, if it looks like frost I'll pop them back in the gh overnight. 
    I'm at least a week behind sowing direct on my plot as the soil is still cold and wet, I've found that delaying till a spell of warmth is forecast, works much better than sowing too early into cold ground. It doesn't stop me getting impatient, but I've learnt to let patience win over enthusiasm 😂.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's a very good motto @scroggin - 'patience over enthusiasm'
    I think many of us could do with that!   ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Thanks @philippasmith2 I have some of those red lettuce seeds that I'm going to try, will give them a go later in the season.

    Thanks once again @Fairygirl and @scroggin ok my mind is made up, they're are going in the beds this weekend and I'll cover with some fleece on the cold nights 👍
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