That seems quite a lot. Do you mean you sit the tray in another tray of water? I only water when they're drying out a good bit - you can feel the difference when you lift the pots. They haven't been watered since I sowed them. A tray will be shallower than a pot, and your greenhouse is warmer than my kitchen by the sound of it, so they'll probably dry out a bit quicker, but I'd just be careful you aren't overdoing it. They're still tiny, and very vulnerable, and it's easy to have them soggy for too long. I'd be inclined to use a can with a fine rose and just give them a couple of swooshes with that rather than have them sitting in water. They shouldn't need too much. [Note the correct horticultural term I used there ]
Watering is one of those things that's tricky to advise on though - you get used to the timing after you've done it for a while. A good idea for seedlings and very small plants is to keep a can of water in your greenhouse so that the water isn't freezing cold either. It just means it's less of a shock to the plants
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
No probs @Sheps. The watering regime can be tricky, but it sounds as if you were doing the right thing if the compost was shrinking a bit. The type of compost is a factor too - many people are finding that some dry out very rapidly and then don't rehydrate, so that doesn't help. I sowed my lettuce around the same time as you then - 19th for mine. We can keep updating with progress to see how each other's are doing
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We sowed lettuce indoors in Feb and then transplanted into the polytunnel in March. We have been able to collect leaves for eating since the 10th. We can't grow them outdoors as our clay soil doesn't like them. We water with an outside gutter system on the polytunnel.
I like to sow into a wide half pot, they take up less space than a tray but still give a good amount of seedlings. I had a nice pot of little gem just getting going when some critter got in and nipped the top off them all and so I have had to re-sow. On a more positive note we have been picking these nearly all winter. Growing in soil bed in an unheated greenhouse.
Good luck with them @Sheps - you'll be up to your ears in lettuce soon I just use anything to sow mine in - any compost, or just garden soil, but just use what suits you, and again - you can always experiment. If I use garden soil I add some grit, or similar, just to be sure the drainage is ok. That's more important when sowing seed, than when they're being grown as individual plants. I should have said that, as well as having clumps potted up for cut and come again use, your later ones [or some of those] can also be pricked out to grow on individually, if that suits. A mix of both works very well, so play about with it as you sow new lots.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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I only water when they're drying out a good bit - you can feel the difference when you lift the pots. They haven't been watered since I sowed them. A tray will be shallower than a pot, and your greenhouse is warmer than my kitchen by the sound of it, so they'll probably dry out a bit quicker, but I'd just be careful you aren't overdoing it. They're still tiny, and very vulnerable, and it's easy to have them soggy for too long.
I'd be inclined to use a can with a fine rose and just give them a couple of swooshes with that rather than have them sitting in water. They shouldn't need too much. [Note the correct horticultural term I used there
Watering is one of those things that's tricky to advise on though - you get used to the timing after you've done it for a while. A good idea for seedlings and very small plants is to keep a can of water in your greenhouse so that the water isn't freezing cold either. It just means it's less of a shock to the plants
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have a new Hawes No 1 Rose that gives a very fine spray so will use that and I already have a watering can in the greenhouse.
Thanks for all the help, it's always appreciated 🙂
I sowed my lettuce around the same time as you then - 19th for mine. We can keep updating with progress to see how each other's are doing
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As for compost, I mixed the following to try and make a lighter growing medium as my seed compost felt quite heavy.
1 scoop MPC
1 scoop Seed Compost
1 scoop Vermiculite
It looks to have worked ok for the Lettuce so will see how they progress.
Thanks once again 😃
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403811178887?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338757644&toolid=20006&customid=727636f4ccfdb7005902bf53ae925077
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
On a more positive note we have been picking these nearly all winter. Growing in soil bed in an unheated greenhouse.
@Allotment Boy those look great, really hoping I can get mine to that sort of size.
Thanks @Dovefromabove I have some of those tops waiting in my basket from Gardening Naturally, think they will come in handy for a quick watering.
I just use anything to sow mine in - any compost, or just garden soil, but just use what suits you, and again - you can always experiment. If I use garden soil I add some grit, or similar, just to be sure the drainage is ok. That's more important when sowing seed, than when they're being grown as individual plants.
I should have said that, as well as having clumps potted up for cut and come again use, your later ones [or some of those] can also be pricked out to grow on individually, if that suits. A mix of both works very well, so play about with it as you sow new lots.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...