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When to Plant Lettuce Sow 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost date. Soil temperatures need to reach 40°F (4°C), though seeds germinate best at 55 to 65°F (13 to 18°C). Seedlings will typically emerge in 7 to 10 days.
Why are my lettuce seeds not germinating?
Lettuce Seeds Germination Time If the soil is too warm, dry, or wet, or if there’s no light, it will inhibit germination. So, if your lettuce seeds aren’t growing, then check the temperature, light, and moisture levels.
How often do you water lettuce seeds?
ANSWER: Lettuce should be watered not daily but instead about twice a week, or once every four or five days, for most of its growing period. It will need to be watered lightly but more frequently for the first two weeks after planting, perhaps daily, depending on your climate.
Does lettuce need sunlight to germinate?
Lettuce seeds must be exposed to light to grow into seedlings. You can sprinkle them on soil or vermiculite and then cover them with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite. Carrots: much like lettuce, to get carrot seeds to germinate, expose them to light by sprinkling them on the surface of the soil.
Should you cover lettuce seeds?
Direct sowing lettuce seeds Don’t sow the seeds too deeply as they need light to germinate. Cover them with a thin layer of soil. Once the seedlings are growing well, thin to ten to twelve inches.
What do I do if my seeds don’t germinate?
If your seeds don’t germinate, simple measures for what to do include making sure to mist your soil instead of pouring water, planting seeds at the recommended depth, controlling pests and fungus, using sterile organic garden soil or growing medium, and avoid using old seeds.
Can you overwater lettuce?
Too much or too little water can spell disaster for lettuce plants at every stage of growth. Insufficient moisture will cause lettuce seeds and seedlings to fail, while too much water will contribute to fungal and bacterial growth that can kill young seedlings.
What does Overwatered lettuce look like?
Treating Overwatered Lettuce Roots that are affected by root rot will be mushy and have a black or brown color to them. Additionally, these roots will be decaying and may easily wither off the plant.
Should you water lettuce every day?
Keep Lettuce Plants Well-Watered Water your lettuce plants every day—and even more often if it is extremely hot and dry. The lettuce leaves are mostly water and will desiccate and wilt in strong sunlight and dry soil. Lettuce roots tend to be shallow, so frequent watering is more important than deep watering.
What month do you plant lettuce?
Begin planting fall lettuce in late summer so it reaches maturity when the fall air is cool. Head lettuce is usually started indoors or in a cold frame and transplanted in the spring after the last frost date.
How long does it take for leaf lettuce to germinate?
Expect germination to occur within 7 to 10 days. Since lettuce seeds are so small, it will be a challenge not to sow too many. Once seedlings are a couple of inches tall, thin them to about 4 to 8 inches apart, depending on the variety. A couple of weeks later, direct sow another batch.
What temperature do lettuce seeds germinate?
Lettuce seed will germinate at 35°F, but optimum germination is 70 to 75°F. If the plants are sufficiently hardened, they will withstand freezing. Repeated exposure to subfreezing temperatures, however, can seriously injure or kill the crop. Lettuce has a relatively high water requirement.
What is the easiest lettuce to grow?
Loose leaf lettuce, which refers to varieties that don’t form any type of head, is considered the easiest to grow. It matures in 40-45 days, but no need to wait that long to enjoy it!Jun 29, 2018.
Do you thin lettuce seedlings?
You should only have to thin your seedlings once, but if you have a lot of extra plants growing you can split it into two occasions. For example, if your plants need to be 12 inches apart, the first time you can thin every 6 inches. Then a week later you can thin them out again to all be 12 inches apart.
Why are my seeds taking so long to germinate?
Too Little Water Water is usually required for seed germination to take place. As seeds mature, they dry out. Water well, taking care not to wash your seeds away or push them too deep into the growing medium, and your seeds may well still germinate in time.
Should I water seeds during germination?
For seeds to germinate, you need to keep the growing soil damp but not too wet. Many seed starters cover the container to keep soil moist until seeds germinate. Once seeds sprout, do not miss a watering. Unlike established plants, seedlings do not have an extensive root system they can rely on for vital moisture.
How long should I wait for seeds to germinate?
The warmer the environment, the faster the germination. The best average temperature to grow your plants is 18 to 24’C (64 to 75’F). Usually it takes 1 to 2 weeks to germinate.
