How do you harvest lettuce seed?

[davee52uk]

I save a lot of seed as a way of being able to grow varieties that I really like. I would like to be able to save lettuce seed but have never got this to work. Getting the plants to run to seed is easy but how do you collect the seed?

[davee52uk]

[debjay]

 Just let the plants go to seed. They grow two or three feet tall and are covered with small yellow flowers. Eventually, small seed pods form which are ready when dried up and brown. The pods can be individually picked by hand and opened up, which is time consuming but the best way to get clean seed. The heads can also be shaken over a paper bag, which is easier but results in a lot of chaff with the seeds. The seeds are so light that they're difficult to separate but if just for your own use the whole mixture can be planted and the seeds will still grow.
Hope this helps
Debbie :)

[ruud]

Be carefull,they cross very easily,so dont grow more than one varity,otherwise you are in for a surprise next time you sow them.Good be fun,you never know what surprise you will get.Cabbages alsoi cross very easy.Some people are doing this by purpose,to create a new varity.I have seed from a cross between red cabbage and a white one.

[OllieC]

Hi ruud, are you sure about that? I thought they prefer to self pollinate... but am happy to be wrong!

[cjb02]

I also thought that lettuce rarely crossed. Could be wrong though.

[ruud]

I have got an e-mail friend in belgium who sent me some home crossed lettuceseed,i have sowed it in the greenhouse and now i am the owner of all kinds of strange looking lettuce,red,green,ruffled,green/red,and spotted ones.