Germinating Lettuce

[plantmark]

I always have trouble getting good germination with Lettuce. Always sow in trays in heat using Levington Seed Compost. I sowed 30 seeds 20 Jan and onlt 2 came through. On the windowsill with minimum temp 63 degrees at night.

Any tips please?

[airconednightmare]

lettuce seed requires light to germinate, if you don't surface sow them you get poor germination.

[plantmark]

Originally Posted by airconednightmare

lettuce seed requires light to germinate, if you don't surface sow them you get poor germination.

Thank, but instructions always say sow 1/4 inch deep?

[brown thumb]

you may have them too hot i dont think they will germinate in over 60 degree heat

[solway cropper]

I'd agree with BT. Lettuce won't germinate if it's too warm. Ideally they should be at about 12- 15˚C

I rarely sow my seed at the depths it says on seed packets and never have problems.

[plantmark]

thanks all..

[airconednightmare]

the temp is maybe a little high, it depends on the type of lettuce, same with the light dependence.

i grew lollo rosso indoors and had very poor germination until i tried just sprinkling the seed onto f2 levington's then tamping them down. try putting a few seeds on damp tissue in the dark and a few in light on the same tissue and see what happens?

[plantmark]

Originally Posted by airconednightmare

the temp is maybe a little high, it depends on the type of lettuce, same with the light dependence.

i grew lollo rosso indoors and had very poor germination until i tried just sprinkling the seed onto f2 levington's then tamping them down. try putting a few seeds on damp tissue in the dark and a few in light on the same tissue and see what happens?

I will thanks. I've never seen the f2 Levington for sale anywhere down here. Its very strange that all seed companies give instructions which dont work too well

[airconednightmare]

well no one would pay for 100+ seeds if a decent germination ratio was expected especially given that lettuce seed doesn't tend to keep for more than a year and you can't store the finished product...

[plantmark]

Yes....fair comment.

[John B]

BT and SC are both probably right,I have never had much luck in germinating lettuce in a hot atmosphere,more success at 10 to 20C. JB.

[plantmark]

I have conducted an interesting experiment on this. Results havn't helped me much as they suggest that lettuce seed is better germinated in darkness, however my experience tells me otherwise

The seed germinated in darkness was at a constant 70°F and that on the windowsill 63-70°F

[klevelyn]

I have started my lettuce indoors and then when the plants have about 4 leafs, I transplant them outside. This works well for me when the weather gets to warm. I find the lettuce really transplants well. If you do it when he plants are tiny it lessen shock.

[brown thumb]

ive never had trouble germinating lettuce seed i always sow at 1/4 inch deep and leave on greenhouse staging have also kept seed for more than a year with good results

[klevelyn]

I found lettuce germinated well in the cool spring, but not in the warm summer. I start my seed inside away from a window and it germinates in about 5 days. then I transplant out to the garden when the seedlings have 4 or more leafs.

Check this link for some good info on temperatures for seed germination.
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1061/ANR-1061.pdf