Forum home Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Sowing Lettuce seeds

2456711

Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    A couple of questions for the lettuce growing experts please!  Once the seeds have germinated in an unheated propagator, is it best to leave the cover in place, and if so, for how long, or remove it during the day and replace it at night, or leave it off completely?  Also is it better to wipe off any condensation which accumulates inside the cover?  I'm hoping the answers will guide others too!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No - always take off the lid. Once any seed germinates, keeping a lid on does more harm than good as it's creating far too much moisture   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Perfect, thank you @fairygirl!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • scrogginscroggin Posts: 437
    @Plantminded, I personally wouldn't use a propagator at all. Lettuce prefer cooler temps and will happily germinate at cool room temperature. Mine are in a unheated greenhouse, if the sun comes out I move them outside during the day. Hope that helps.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't use one either @scroggin. I sow in pots and use a little plastic lid if I do any seed a this time of year. Those plants will be for inside use anyway. My kitchen isn't terribly warm, as I said on the other page. Lid's off as soon as anything appears.
    The later ones would just be sown in pots, in the house or growhouse, depending on the weather, and outside when it's suitable for them, like you say.

    Slugs are the biggest problem for putting lettuce outside here. I used a trough up on a pot, and set in a shallow tray of water last year, which worked well.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Yes it often surprises people, though we tend to think of lettuce as a summer crop it won't germinate well much above 22 C .
    AB Still learning

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Thank you @scroggin, @Fairygirl and @Allotment Boy, that's very helpful.  Much easier than those Ricinus seeds I grew last year!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    We have germination, first time growing anything from seed, so very pleased to see my little babies.

    Now all I have to do is keep them alive.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Good stuff @Sheps :)
    Just let them get on with it now. When they're bigger, you can just split them into clumps and pot them up rather than pricking them all out separately. Then you can do a few more pots, or anther tray, for later use.  
    Some I sowed last week have just germinated, sown in the way I described with the little lid. I doubt the kitchen has ever been above 16 or 17 at most, in that time, as there's been very little sun to warm it up. 
    They'll be around the size of yours in a few days.  :)
    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 @Fairygirl will do as advised.

    I watered them from underneath yesterday for about 20min, so 5 days after sowing, should I continue doing the same?
Sign In or Register to comment.