They should be ready to plant out in about 4 weeks. Place your trays in your greenhouse, polytunnel, cold frame or windowsill to germinate. This is less likely to wash the seed around than the heavy spray from a watering can. A good tip is to use a plastic bottle with small holes punched in the cap. You will need to keep the compost moist at all times just don't cover them. Make sure you have the right variety for each.ĭon't cover seeds I know you'll want to but don't cover the lettuce seed or you'll get a very poor germination rate. If you are growing a 'mat' of lettuce for cut and come again sow 3-5 seeds. Single head or cut and come again? If you want a single head of lettuce sow 1 seed per module. Lettuces need light to germinate so we will not be burying the seed, the depressions should be just enough to keep the seed in the middle of the cell. Give the tray a sharp bang on your table to settle.ĭon't make holes!With your fingers make very small depressions in each cell. When filling the tray rub the compost through your hands to break up any lumps. Here's what you do: Fill the seed tray with compost and brush off any excess. We use a seed module tray with each section being approx 2 inches deep. Use a seed compost which has a finer texture and lower nutrients than your standard multipurpose compost. Once they have germinated put them back in the tunnel, temperature is not an issue once the plants are up. Place the seedlings in a cool shed for 2 days to germinate. When raising seedlings in a greenhouse or polytunnel this can often happen in the spring and summer. Important: Many lettuce varieties fail to germinate when the temperature of the compost is above 25☌. I always like to sow in modular trays but I find it especially good for lettuces as emerging seedlings are so prone to slug attack. There are many different types and varieties of lettuce but with regard to sowing we either want one single head of lettuce or a bunch of plants for cut and come again production. Place the seedling plug in the hole and firm gently around the roots, water well. Make a hole with a dibber or suitable stick approx 9in apart (A piece of an old broom handle is ideal). From trays or modules harden off and plant out under fleece. Seedlings started indoors can be planted outside after danger of severe frost has passed. Start early indoors or seed directly outdoors from late March to August. Cloches available at our e-shop soon.Ī moist well drained fertile soil which has had plenty of compost dug in the previous autumn is best. A collapsible poly-tunnel is a handy alternative to a rigid cloche. You'll need some cloches – transparent frames that make the most of weak sunlight and the plants' own heat, warming the crop and its soil. Red Salad bowl Lettuce is a slow bolting red oakleaf. The good news is that several lettuce varieties can tolerate cool conditions.

It's great to enjoy your own lettuce over the summer but imagine how uplifting it would be if you could treat yourself to home-grown salad during the colder months. The Quickcrop all lettuce mix contains a broad range of easy to grow lettuce, ideal for cut and come again use.

1 week lettuce seedlings