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Lettuce seeds are often quite small and only require a planting depth of ¼ to ½ inch deep. Growing lettuce in rows gives your garden a traditional look.
How do you plant lettuce seeds?
To sow lettuce directly in the garden, simply plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep, tamp them down, and water. It’s that simple! Space the sowings according to packet directions that are based on the size of the mature lettuce. For example, a crisphead may require a square foot of garden space.
What happens if I plant my lettuce seeds too deep?
ANSWER: Seeds that are planted too deep in the soil may grow into weak, feeble seedlings or fail to germinate at all. If Romaine lettuce seeds that are planted too deep manage to sprout, the lettuce may fail to form a heart.
How many lettuce seeds are in a hole?
Indoors, plant one lettuce seed per hole if you’re using fresh ones. Otherwise, use 2-3 per hole if they are old, and then thin the seedlings later as necessary. Step 3: Plant the seeds – The best way to plant lettuce seeds is to sprinkle them over the top of the loose garden soil or indoor trays.
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.
Can you put seeds straight into soil?
Another option is to tuck seeds directly into soil outdoors. Planting seeds this way is called direct sowing, and it is an easy process that yields great results. Even so, many vegetables, annuals, herbs and perennials sprout easily from seed sown directly into garden soil.
How deep is too deep for seeds?
Seed-Starting Mistake #3: Planting Too Deep The rule of thumb is to plant seeds at a depth equal to two or three times their width. It is better to plant seeds too shallow than too deep.
What happens if you plant a seed too shallow?
Planting too shallow may result in poor germination due to low soil moisture retention near the soil surface or seed injury due to insects or disease. Similarly, if placement is too deep, seed may have delayed germination due to lower soil temperatures or result in poor germination or seed injury.
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.
How long does it take lettuce seeds to germinate?
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.
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.
How big should lettuce be before transplanting?
Lettuce should be transplanted when the plants are between 2-3 inches tall. You should harden off your lettuce plants 7-10 days before transplanting. Bring them outdoors for a few hours, increasing the length of time each day. Prepare your bed by loosening the soil and adding compost if available.
Will leggy lettuce seedlings survive?
Tomato, zucchini, broccoli, kale, lettuce, and beet seedlings tend to get leggy because they’re started in spring when daylight is still limited. The good news is, leggy seedlings can usually be fixed before it’s too late.
Why is my lettuce getting leggy?
Not enough sun can cause your seedlings to develop the long, thin, pale stalks that often are described as “leggy.” Lack of sufficient sun, insufficient water, overcrowding and too much heat also can cause legginess.
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.
Does lettuce need light 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.
Do you need to harden off lettuce?
Moving from greenhouse to garden can really shock plants and sometimes kill them. Hardening off toughens them against sunburn, windburn and cold air. To harden off plants, cut down on watering about 12 days before you plan to set them out.
Is it better to plant seeds in the morning or evening?
Planting in the morning may be best. “In the morning sow thy seed,” according to Ecclesiastes, and it is not bad advice for gardeners. Morning planting offers a seed more of what it needs to germinate and fewer dangers.
Should seeds be soaked before planting?
Soaking seeds before planting helps you to break down the seed’s natural defenses against what it expects from Mother Nature, which then allows it to germinate faster. Another reason is that while Mother Nature actively assaults seeds, she also gave those seeds an internal gauge to help them know when they should grow.
What is the best medium for starting seeds?
Edmund’s recipe for a good basic pasteurized medium for growing seedlings is a mixture of one-third pasteurized soil or compost, one-third sand, vermiculite or perlite, and one-third peat moss.
