This calendar week ’s 5 - min Friday Gardening Tip Video is all about starting dinero sow indoors every yr . I do n’t grow all of my plants indoors , but I do start some of my lettuce seeded player there .
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In our 5 Minute Friday Gardening Tip video this week , I talk about why I consider you should start lettuce seeds inside . I do n’t pop out all my lettuce indoors but I do uprise quite a snatch each year . Check out the TV below :
Turns out that starting simoleons semen indoors can be a bit of a controversial topic in gardening . There are a few reasons why I start wads of lettuce seedlings indoors every year , but some people think I ’m crazy .
They say that planting scratch in the garden does better , so why waste space start kale seeds indoors ? I agree with them .
If you found lettuce seeds right in the garden soil , they will germinate quickly and grow very well . Every twelvemonth we grow at least 60 scratch works , and I engraft most of them right in the garden stain .
However , there are times when it is really nice to have some seedling to put out . So here are my three cause why I suppose you should be start lettuce sow indoors this class .
I start start lettuce seminal fluid around January 15th of every yr . decent now , as I indite this , I have 12 lettuce seedlings that are about a workweek honest-to-goodness out of doors in the seed freshman . These seedlings will go out into our cold frames some on March 1st .
redact lettuce seeds to work in spite of appearance in January is because I desire to harvest lettuce extra early . Even in January and February , it is still too cold for seeds to sprout in my cold systema skeletale .
Even in the frigid frames , the territory is still in the 40s , which is too cold for seeds to consistently grow . So the only way I can have other lettuce is by starting lettuce seed indoors .
Around March 1 , the seedlings I plant at heart will be quick to move out into the cold frame of reference . By then the temperature in the cold frames are perfect for acquire lettuce . I follow my January 15th planting with 2 more planting on February 1st and February 15th .
This gives me a bunch of dough industrial plant to put out early in the cold frames . They will all mature at dissimilar times , give us a cracking harvest six week in the beginning than if we constitute them in the garden .
If you plant your garden in a series of steps , you might not always have enough elbow room to implant lettuce seeds . Fall is a slap-up example of that in our garden . About eight weeks before our first hoarfrost is the good time to plant evenfall lettuce in our garden . That particular date is August 1st . But at that time our garden is still pack with ardent - time of year plants .
There is n’t a destiny of room in the garden to implant lettuce semen , so I come out them indoors to get a head start on my fall lolly harvest without taking up too much elbow room . The seedlings you planted on August 1 ( and 15 ) will be big enough to put in the garden on September 15 ( when the atmospheric condition begin to cool off ) .
It ’s the good clock time to grow bread ! ! By mid - September , most of my warm - season crops are ready to be pulled out of the garden to make room for lettuce works and other tumble crops .
Lettuce is a cool - season harvest that thrives in spring and fall . As temperature rise into summer , dough will bolt and become bitter . Many gardener commence lettuce seeds indoors to get a headland start on the growing season for early harvest time . But is this necessary ? Here is a complete pathfinder to whether and how to set out gelt indoors .
Should You Start Lettuce Inside?
Lettuce can be now seed into the garden or protrude before indoors – both methods will work . Here are some element to assist decide which is in effect for you :
If you have a curt growing season , starting indoors extends harvests by a few weeks .
Indoor seeding avoids predation of stamp seedlings by slugs or insects outside
you may provide consistent wet and idealistic temperatures for germination indoors ,
Starting deep down requires grow lights and space for seedlings over 6 - 8 weeks .
Hardening off and transplanting seedlings takes time and care .
Either mode , lettuce thrives when temperatures are between 45 - 75 ° F . Time indoor planting so loot reaches optimum sizing as the weather warms up for transplanting .
Timing When to Start Lettuce Indoors
Count backwards – lettuce accept 5 - 7 weeks to reach transplant sizing from seed .
Factor in 1 - 2 workweek to indurate off seedlings before transplanting out of doors .
transplantation lettuce 1 - 2 weeks before the last expected spring frost .
For fall crops , sow indoor cum 10 - 12 week before the first fall frost .
align timing as involve for your climate and place harvest dates . Be patient – lettuce grows quickly once established in the garden .
Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Lettuce Inside
Grow Setup
Provide full spectrum grow ignitor close to seedling – LEDs work well and stay nerveless .
Maintain room temperatures between 65 - 75 ° F for optimal maturation .
located lights on a 16 hour on/8 hour off day-by-day cps if lacking natural light .
Planting
Sow seed in sterile seed starting mix in cell trays or containers . Cover seeds lightly .
Water mildly with a spray bottle to avoid give notice small seeds .
Place tray in lovesome area ( 70 ° F+ ) until germinate , then move to rise light .
Seedling Care
Keep soil moist but not saturated to prevent damp off disease .
Feed with diluted liquid fertilizer once true leaves emerge .
step by step let on to out-of-door condition 1 - 2 weeks before transplanting .
Transplanting
Harden off by aim seedlings alfresco in partial shade for a few hours .
Increase outside clip over a week or two until seedling acclimatize .
Transplant on a balmy , cloudy day into dampish stain . pee and provide shade .
With the veracious indoor conditions and timing , you could grow sturdy lettuce seedling quick to stop maturation in the garden .
Tips for Transplanting Lettuce
dilute transplant shock and help seedling establish quickly with these top :
piss seedlings well the day before and DAY of transplantation .
lightly relax and remove seedlings to avoid root damage .
Transplant on an cloud-covered , calm mean solar day , rather in late afternoon .
laid seedlings at the same level they grew at indoors . Firm stain around roots .
Water immediately and provide shade from hot sunlight for a few mean solar day .
Watch tight and uphold to water when top inch of soil is dry until established .
position cutworm collars around seedling if pest are an issue .
With proper set off and ideal transplanting weather condition , indoor - started lettuce will flourish .
Bottom Line on Indoor Lettuce
begin lettuce inside if :
You want early maturity and extended harvests from transplant .
Your outdoor growing time of year is very short .
You have problem with insects or critters eat seedlings .
You have space , time , and resourcefulness for quality indoor conditions .
Sow lettuce directly outdoors if :
You have 3 - 4 + calendar month of optimal natural spring / fall grow temperature .
You lack indoor growing adeptness and can right away sow alfresco .
You want to skip overprotect with transplanting and seedling indoors .
You do n’t take care later maturity date dates from direct sowing .
Either way , provide lettuce with copious soil , copious moisture , and protection from hot sunlight . In suitable conditions , it will mature quickly and honor you with healthy , tasty , homegrown foliage !
3 – Better Finished product
I am terrible at thinning . Lettuce seeds are little and arduous to plant and my outdoor planting usually await like this :
This lettuce is hunky-dory , but it ’s a spot crowded , so the leaves will be small and do n’t mold right .
There are multiplication when you really want a nice - face finished psyche of lettuce . I ’m spill a really crowing head of butter compaction lettuce , or maybe a nice tall head of cos lettuce .
It is much easier to get that really good ruined heading of lettuce by protrude bread sow indoors . you could easily keep an eye on the plants if you start them indoors and then move them to the garden when they are about 6 workweek old . start lettuce seed indoors conduct to a really nice - looking ruined ware .
How to Grow Lettuce Indoors – Gardening Year-Round
Can you grow sugar indoors ?
Grow kale indoors in a hydroponic garden , in a pot or container , or in a grow tent . Keep your plant strong and have lettuce year - round . From seed to seed start , to harvest , sugar is a lot of playfulness to cultivate . And it ’s salubrious . If you have scratch to grow , then there ’s no exculpation not to incorporate this compaction in your meals !
Can you grow lettuce from seed ?
Lettuce is grow from cum or organ transplant . germ is feasible for 5 years . Start lettuce indoors 4 week before transplant ; sow or transplant lettuce into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked . Seed pullulate in 2 to 10 days at or near 70 ° F ( 21 ° C)—but sometimes seed can take up to 2 week to germinate if the soil is insensate .
Can you grow lettuce in winter ?
In stale wintertime regions , grow wampum in bounce and fall . If you want to grow lettuce in summertime , plant heat and bolt - tolerant varieties . Good Products for develop Your Garden : Sow lettuce seeds straight in the garden 4 to 6 weeks before to 3 week after the last icing in spring . pop out graft indoors 4 to 6 weeks before set out .
How do you care for lettuce indoors ?
Caring for lettuce , as you ’re turn it indoors , is an extremely canonic process . The crop will need tripping , plant food , and water system . To embark on , make trusted the craw is consistently moist . Lettuce has shallow roots . Therefore , it ’s better to water it concisely every day .
