Lettuce Seeds
Choose a pots for lettuce to grow freely – each lettuce plant requires 4–6 inch (10 – 15 cm) of space and a depth of about 8 inches (20 cm). Pots must have holes on the bottom. Place a saucer underneath the pot to catch draining water. Moisten the soil to prepare it for planting, then fill containers with about 3/4 of pot high. Dig a 4 (10 cm) deep hole and place your seeds inside at about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. Limit your seeds to 4 per pot to avoid overcrowding the lettuce as it grows. Take a handful of potting soil and gently sprinkle it over the newly-planted seeds. Fill a spray bottle with water and gently mist the seeds to avoid washing them away. Place your containers in a warm location. Check daily for signs of sprouts. Once sprouts appear. If planning to plant in the garden dig holes in rows 16 inches (40.6 cm) apart, just deep enough to plant the root balls underground. Lift the lettuce seedlings from the seed tray and place them into the holes. Gently pat soil around the roots so that the seedlings stay upright, planted to the same depth they were in the trays. Water the seedlings thoroughly.
Take a walk through your living space to determine suitable, sunny spots — ideally, a place that gets 12 hours of bright light each day. For lettuce, a south-facing window is best. Your chosen location must also be a safe one. Pick a spot away from active heat sources and cold drafts. For later transferring seedlings to garden you can choose a flat, fairly shallow containers with good drainage are ideal. Other options include 4 to 6 inches (10 -15 cm) plastic pots or a multi-cell seed-starting system. You can also recycle produce containers or take-out dishes, some of which come with clear covers handy for seed starting. Wash them well and poke a few holes in the bottom for drainage. For soil, choose a planting mix that’s made for seed starting. When it comes to choosing seeds, some varieties are better suited to indoor growing. Look for loose-leaf varieties, such as Baby Oakleaf, Tom Thumb and Black-Seeded Simpson. Some varieties are known to grow well in winter light, such as Arctic King, Winter Marvel and Winter Density. If you are planning to grow lettuce individually choose a good pot. When deciding on a pot size, think about what type and how much lettuce you want to grow. Loose-leaf lettuces can be planted as close as 4 inch (10 cm) apart, but larger head lettuces should be spaced around 6 inches (15 cm) apart. Choose a pot that’s at least 14 inches (36 cm) wide and 6 inches (15 cm) deep (picture no. 1). Make sure the bottom of the pot has plenty of drainage holes. This allows any excess water to drain out of the pot. If you’re planning to keep your pot indoors, be sure to place a saucer or other kind of water collection dish underneath your pot to stop any draining water from seeping out onto your floor. (Picture no. 2) Fill the pot until the soil line is about 2 in (5.1 cm) from the pot’s rim. Avoid filling the pot all the way to the top, because this can make it easier to damage the crowns of the lettuce when you harvest them. Gently press the soil down into the pot so it compacts. You can store lettuce. If you put it in a plastic bag with some paper towels.
Picture no. 1
Picture no. 2
