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Winter Lettuce help
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Topic: Winter Lettuce help (Read 3863 times)
Gillian
Half Acre
Posts: 111
Winter Lettuce help
«
on:
November 23, 2005, 21:08:14 »
Hi,
I'm trying to grow winter lettuce but the seedlings keep coming up all long and stringy. What am I doing wrong?
They're in a heated propagator, on a sunny (well if there is any) windowledge but still the same.
It says on the packet to sow until Jan - I am trying!
Any ideas?
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terrace max
Hectare
Posts: 1,132
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #1 on:
November 23, 2005, 21:17:15 »
Light levels are so low at this time of year I suspect your seedlings just ain't getting enough solar energy. I don't bother sowing any small seeds (i.e. without stored energy supplies) until mid January when the light levels in my greenhouse improve again...
As for winter lettuce I sow my last lot in October when they get a chance to grow (really slowly) for eating into January. Nov/Dec is really a no sow zone in my book...
It may be different in the sunny south, however...
«
Last Edit: November 24, 2005, 08:24:45 by terrace max
»
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carloso
Acre
Posts: 409
sprouts gimmie wind
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #2 on:
November 23, 2005, 21:34:24 »
i suggest you pay me to take them to the bahamas for a week to help them along
carl
OK OK I offerd lol
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Gillian
Half Acre
Posts: 111
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #3 on:
November 23, 2005, 21:54:52 »
oh bugger - I bet you're right it's just not a good time for wee seedlings.
Oh well, I'll ditch them and try again in January.
Thanks for the advice.
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grassroots
Half Acre
Posts: 194
If at first you dont succeed GIVE UP.
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #4 on:
November 23, 2005, 23:12:33 »
Its no better in the sunney south with lettuce seed.Light levels are so low at this time of year been trying all ways. P/ S I'm in somerset
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Motherwoman
Quarter Acre
Posts: 55
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #5 on:
November 24, 2005, 09:58:54 »
Too hot,too little light and either too late or too early depending on which way you look at it! I never get round to sowing my winter lettuce at the right time either,Gillian,I seem to spend several weeks saying I must to it and I've never managed it yet!
......and one day a man shall land on the moon.........
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My idea of a good time is a new seed catalogue to read.
redimp
Hectare
Posts: 3,928
Colonia Domitiana Lindensium, Flavia Caesariensis
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #6 on:
November 24, 2005, 17:14:52 »
Mine says it can be sown right through the winter and to cloche it if it gets a bit too cold to germinate. I hope so because I took my eye off my first sowing and the slugs and snails levelled it.
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Lotty @ Lincoln (Lat:53.24, Long:-0.52, HASL:30m)
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tim
Hectare
Posts: 18,607
Just like the old days!
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #7 on:
November 24, 2005, 17:50:35 »
Gillian - see the difference that a growing light (on the right) can make even in March.
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jennym
Hectare
Posts: 3,329
Essex/Suffolk border
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #8 on:
November 24, 2005, 21:10:39 »
Lovely picture Tim.
Lettuces definitely don't want a heated propagator in order to germinate - did trials last year, and the best result was in fact at around 8 - 10 degrees in spring, with shelter from the weather in an open polytunnel.
When I sow them out on the plot, I generally do it in the shade cast by a fruit cage - that way it keeps cool enough to do successional sowing throughout the summer.
«
Last Edit: November 24, 2005, 21:42:07 by jennym
»
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kitty
Hectare
Posts: 1,325
its what i do.
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #9 on:
November 24, 2005, 22:15:27 »
i sowed mixed leaves at the end of october and some(gawd help me!)last week and put all under bell cloches..they are doing really well and we get...um.about a small salaad a week from them-just enough to keep the scurvy at bay!
i brought my pepper plants into the (cold..and i mean cold)conservatory and they are slowly and healthily ripening to a cheery red...
i would try again in jan feb time under cloches ....
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Derekthefox
read only
Hectare
Posts: 3,284
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #10 on:
November 25, 2005, 08:31:25 »
I have a growing light at work, perhaps I can keep some small lettuces going there ...
Derekthefox :D
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wardy
Hectare
Posts: 3,953
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #11 on:
November 25, 2005, 09:36:08 »
I've got a good row of winter lettuce doing well on the lotty, still small but delish,
Will they still grow or will they stop until weather warms up ?
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terrace max
Hectare
Posts: 1,132
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #12 on:
November 25, 2005, 09:45:20 »
They'll grow slowwwwwly... (from memory) I think winter growth rates are a third of those in summer...
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Derekthefox
read only
Hectare
Posts: 3,284
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #13 on:
November 25, 2005, 11:32:09 »
Yes, having grown parella red one year in my unheated greenhouse, they seemed to take forever ...
Derekthefox :D
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wardy
Hectare
Posts: 3,953
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #14 on:
November 25, 2005, 11:52:39 »
We used red (or is it called black) perilla in one of our flowerbeds this year not realising it was edible. It's called shiso and is used as a wrap for sushi.
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Derekthefox
read only
Hectare
Posts: 3,284
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #15 on:
November 25, 2005, 11:55:41 »
I was disappointed with the flavour, they seemed rather bitter, but so much is trial and error anyway ...
Derekthefox :D
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wardy
Hectare
Posts: 3,953
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #16 on:
November 25, 2005, 11:59:08 »
Wonder if being wrapped round a piece of raw fish would make it more palatable :P
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Derekthefox
read only
Hectare
Posts: 3,284
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #17 on:
November 25, 2005, 12:52:11 »
Wrapping them around anything would make them seem better I guess !!! ;D
Derekthefox :D
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tim
Hectare
Posts: 18,607
Just like the old days!
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #18 on:
November 25, 2005, 13:05:40 »
Mine, Derek, had 4 hours extra morning & evening.
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wardy
Hectare
Posts: 3,953
Re: Winter Lettuce help
«
Reply #19 on:
November 25, 2005, 14:46:08 »
Just been to plot and checked on my winter lettuce. They look a bit limp and browning at the edges. Bit like meself :)
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