Winter Lettuce help

[Gillian]

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?

[Gillian]

[terrace max]

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...

[carloso]

i suggest you pay me to take them to the bahamas for a week to help them along

carl

OK OK I offerd lol

[Gillian]

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.

[grassroots]

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

[Motherwoman]

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.........

[redimp]

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.

[tim]

Gillian - see the difference that a growing light (on the right) can make even in March.

[jennym]

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.

[kitty]

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 ....

[Derekthefox]

I have a growing light at work, perhaps I can keep some small lettuces going there ...

Derekthefox :D

[wardy]

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 ?

[terrace max]

They'll grow slowwwwwly... (from memory) I think winter growth rates are a third of those in summer...

[Derekthefox]

Yes, having grown parella red one year in my unheated greenhouse, they seemed to take forever ...

Derekthefox :D

[wardy]

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.

[Derekthefox]

I was disappointed with the flavour, they seemed rather bitter, but so much is trial and error anyway ...

Derekthefox :D

[wardy]

Wonder if being wrapped round a piece of raw fish would make it more palatable  :P

[Derekthefox]

Wrapping them around anything would make them seem better I guess !!!  ;D

Derekthefox :D

[tim]

Mine, Derek, had 4 hours extra morning & evening.

[wardy]

Just been to plot and checked on my winter lettuce.  They look a bit limp and browning at the edges.  Bit like meself  :)