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Growing lettuce in pots
Guernsey Donkey2
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Those lettuce seeds are so small - so now I have far too many small lettuce waiting to be planted. My problems are slugs & pigeons that managed to spoil many of my lettuce before they had fully established - can I therefore grow the lettuce in large pots in a cold GH? The greenhouse temp was about 25 degrees today in the full sunshine.
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Yes Guernsey they'll grow fine. Might need a bit of shade though.
Yes I am sure that you are right Dave, thank you. I was thinking of putting them in the shady part of the GH which faces South - it's a lean to GH with tongue & groove half way up the front - I will try to remember to take some pictures of it - much easier than describing it to you, I was just concerned that the lettuce would be too warm in there.
Zoomer44, no-one has told the slugs that! My veg plot, is raised beds surrounded by gravel, the slugs happily walk across it. You dont have to have deep pots for lettuce, they arent deep rooted, and it saves compost, plus you can grow pretty much all year round. Took our dogs on the beach yesterday, was warm enough to sit in the sun, showing 12d, got home the conservatory was 24!!! Trouble is often 10 at night, my toms seedling were wilted, OK now though.
I always grow my lettuce in pots GD. It's easier to control the slugs that way although it can still be a battle. Off the ground and plenty of grit etc works best for me. I sow in succession so that there's always a few back ups. They grow well with a bit of shade.
I'd have thought they'd get a bit hot and limp in your greenhouse but it's always worth a try. Perhaps you can have them outside during the day - up off the ground
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've got them in modules doing well so far.Going to plant them out surrounded with holly branches. If that doesn't deter the slugs nothing will.
Nothing will
I'll report back - I have planted the lettuce seedlings in large pots in the cold GH - an used a few slug pellets - I don't like using them but they are organic and apart from the odd slug - nothing else will get into the GH i.e. birds/hedgehogs.
I have grown some in a deep seed tray, I can then pick off the outside leaves and they will grow again, keep sowing in succession, who wants 100 lettuses ready to eat in one week. I do the same with radish, sow a dozen in a large ice cream tub or similar, then again in two weeks time.