If it’s too hot, they won’t germinate. Do THIS if you will be keeping your Lettuce in its container all summer! In this post, I will show you exactly when and how to plant lettuce seeds for the best results. Finally, looseleaf has the highest nutritional value but also is known to bolt or seed the quickest in warm weather. I eat salads every day in the summer too. On average, it only takes about 40-50 days for them to reach full maturity. The plant will keep growing. Here are answers to the ones I see the most. If you will be planting your lettuce into a garden then you will want to add a nutritious garden soil mix into the ground, such as Miracle-Gro Expand N Gro, Begin Planting Seed 6 weeks Before the Last Frost, Provide Your Seeds with At Least 8 Hours of Sunlight, Prune & Transplant your Lettuce Plant into a Larger Pot, Introduce your Lettuce to Outside Weather. This will be our first time growing it and we can’t wait. I am like your husband and hate getting lettuce from the store during the winter!! It’s the only way I’ve tried that works for getting fresh lettuce (and herbs) during our winters here in Minnesota. The reason this type of lettuce is called looseleaf is because it doesn’t form a head and has numerou varieties. Since they are so small, and require light to germinate, take care to plant lettuce seeds only about 1/4 inch deep. Place the pot in a sunny location and water them whnever the leaves begin to wilt. With that being said, you can even grow lettuce seeds in temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. potting mix (if growing in containers) a cool location. I’m a passionate gardener who loves growing everything from vegetables, herbs, and flowers to succulents, tropicals, and houseplants - you name, I've grown it! Once your lettuce seedlings have germinated, they still need extra care. If you're planting seedlings, plant no more than 4 per pot so they have enough room to grow. All of the ones that grow after that are called the “true leaves”, and they look exactly like the mature ones – only much tinier. Sowing lettuce seeds takes a little bit of planning. If you don’t have an area that will stay consistently around 50-65 degrees, I would recommend investing in a Plant Heating Mat. Anything to get my kids to eat healthy. You will do this until the seeds germinate and then continue doing this until they become at least 3 inches tall. Yes! If growing from seed, plant no more than 10 seeds per foot of growing space. Lettuce seedlings hate the heat, and hot weather will trigger bolting. Spring and summer is actually the perfect time to grow lettuce from seed. On the first day, you will want to place your Lettuce (still in its pot) outside in direct sunlight for approximately 2 hours. In fact, lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed, and it takes very little effort to get a great crop of garden fresh lettuce. Otherwise, you may have planted them too deep, or the soil is too warm, too wet, or too dry. There are tons of varieties of lettuce seeds you can grow. My green thumb comes from my parents, and I've been gardening most of my life. My garden has southern exposure. If the seedlings are dying after you soaked the soil, then they may have been overwatered. So, if your lettuce seeds aren’t growing, then check the temperature, light, and moisture levels. If your lettuce seeds don’t germinate, they are most likely old. You can tuck them into raised beds next to or under other vegetables that are fast growing and can provide shade as the sun gets hotter (like beans, squash and cucumbers). I wish I could grow it year round under a hoop, that would be awesome! Don’t just throw them into the garden and hope for the best. To sow lettuce directly in the garden, simply plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep, tamp them down, and water. Once the last frost of the year has happened you can transplant your Lettuce outside. Step 4: Water them – Once all your lettuce seeds are sown, water them well until the soil is evenly moist, but not soggy. With is interesting given the demand for very fresh and high quality food. If you're starting them from seed, fill a pot with a seed starting mix and plant the seeds about 4–6 in (10–15 cm) deep. Some of my favorites are mesclun leaf mix, French Red Leaf, and Butterhead. It can take anywhere from 55-80 days from seed to harvest for iceberg, romaine, or bibb lettuce, for example. My brand new book Vertical Vegetables is now available for purchase!! Do better in cooler temperatures and may even get bitter if the for... Depends on what is most convenient for you and choose a container/space with good drainage our lettuce. Spring crops indoors they germinate evenly, hang a plant ’ s sunlight that turns a dark color well pots! 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