I thought lettuce was supposed to be easy to grow, but I'm not having much luck. I've sown 2 or 3 lots at the allotment but either the ground has dried out too much or the birds have got the seeds, not sure which. So I sowed some in modules in the greenhouse and they've gone all leggy. Anyone got any tips? The kids like iceberg types the best, but if there's something more foolproof, please let me know!
Normally lettuces are fairly easy to grow during the Spring and early Summer. However, with the extreme temperatures which we have experienced, lettuces have been struggling, and like you, I have lost all my crops. My neighbour kept his watered daily, and has saved them, but admits that it has been hard work.
my cut and come leaves were a doddle but seem to have stopped coming now after a month but so be it.
however my Webbs Wonderful have been nothing sort of a disaster.
The first lot sown never did nowt at all, the second lot, which i kept in the cool bedroom to germinate (due to the heatwave that seems eons ago now) are struggling along in the most pathetic stylee.
I have six very leggy seedlings that look totally as if they're not going to achieve much at all but .... they're not dead yet and they'll stay in the bedroom until their behaviour improves or they cark it !
I thought they'd be a matter of bung em in and see em grow ! Not the case at all.
:'(
My lettuce has bee fine but one of the men on my site has had problems with his.
I start mine in a seed tray in the greenhouse then put outside when big enough. Try little gem they seem to germinate at the drop of a hat.
This has been the worst year ever - I repeat my pic with 4 different sowings!!
Iceberg? Yes - No1 Daughter will only eat those, but they can be Hell for rotting off & crowding out. So we eat Tin Tin or Gem or Sherwood & She buys her own!!
Lettuce do not like to be sowed into hot dry ground. Make your drill and then water it well. Leave this to soak in, then water again. Now sprinkle your seed. I try not to touch fine seed as I have heard that with some seeds, the oils from your fingers can stop germination, and I have enough problems without adding to them! Water the area with a fine rose and if necessary, use whatever slug defences you favour. They should be through in about a week (my little gems were through within 4 days). I grow my lettuce in the shade of bigger plants as they really don't like direct sunlight and it will cause them to frazzle and bolt. I find pot sown lettuce get to leggy so now only sow direct and have great success. Hope this helps.
Mine were leggy and sickly things until I planted them into the raised bed and now they're growing great guns. It took about two weeks for them to pick up.
I find Lakeland a very dependable "Iceberg" type, but the last ones don't heart up, if put out after the end of August!
;D
Thanks, everyone- glad it's not just me! (Seem to be saying that about a lot of things this year :()
if the gales drop, my half dozen will be stuck outside and be damned with them. if they have the strength to survive then they deserve it, if not - they weren't worth it 8)
........... and then i'll try some more ;D
am so so so seriously considering another g/h ::)