Page 17 - ALG Issue 3 2019
P. 17

    Allotment and Leisure Gardener 17
 Lettuce Master Class
Growing lettuce should be simple, but during hot weather it can be a challenge for many plotholders.
1. If sowing direct outdoors, always water the seed drill first before sowing.
2. Sow seeds thinly to avoid too much thinning out.
3. Thinnings can be transplanted – it is best done in the evening when cooler; these will mature slightly later than the undisturbed seedlings giving a longer cropping period.
4. I prefer to sow seeds in pots under glass filled with seed sowing compost and watered with tap water. The seed is sown and lightly covered with vermiculite. Sowings are made every 2-3 weeks and then I prick out the seedlings into modules, and grow on until large enough to plant out, filling in any vacant gaps.
5. Freshly planted lettuce requires regular watering for the first 7-10 days. By then they should have got hold of the soil and no more water is required.
6. Lettuces prefer to grow in a sunny site, rather than in the shade; however, during hot weather, planting can be made beside taller crops of sweetcorn or beans where they get some shade for part of the day.
7. Germinating lettuce seed during very hot weather can be difficult as temperatures above 20°C can inhibit germination. A handy tip is to place the seed packet in the fridge overnight the day before you wish to sow it. This will cool the seed down sufficiently to germinate within a few days, despite the hot temperatures.
8. Sowing lettuce every 2-3 weeks from March through to October and choosing the correct varieties will
provide fresh salads through the majority of
the year from outdoor grown lettuce.
9. Always sow green and coloured varieties, providing you with a colourful salad and different flavours.
10. Early and late sown crops will benefit from some cloche protection during the harshest of weather.
  



















































































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