Lettuce seeds must be exposed to light to grow into seedlings. You can sprinkle them on soil or vermiculite and then cover them with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite.
Do lettuce seeds need light to sprout?
Lettuce needs light and water to germinate. It is supposed to germinate in seven to 10 days. In my experience a generous sprinkling of seeds on top of soil-starting medium might generate two or three weak sprouts after weeks of tender care and gentle spritzing to keep the seeds moist.
What is the fastest way to germinate lettuce seeds?
Lettuce seeds don’t sprout easily when the soil temperature is over 22°C (72°F) in summer. Get around this by sprouting them indoors in a cool area, or pre-sprout by sprinkling seeds on a damp paper towel and placing it in a plastic bag in the fridge for a few days.
What seeds require darkness to germinate?
Some other popular types which prefer darkness for germination are:
- Calendula.
- Centaurea.
- Delphinium.
- Gazania.
- Nemesia.
- Primula sinensis.
- Schizanthus.
Does lettuce need light or dark to germinate?
Lettuce seeds must be exposed to light to grow into seedlings. You can sprinkle them on soil or vermiculite and then cover them with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite. Carrots: much like lettuce, to get carrot seeds to germinate, expose them to light by sprinkling them on the surface of the soil.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors?
For a jumpstart on the spring garden, start lettuce seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your area’s last hard frost — which is around 28 degrees overnight.
Should I start lettuce indoors?
Lettuce is so easy to grow it can be started indoors for early transplants or sown directly in the garden. In fact, doing both is recommended to get maximum production. Start some lettuce seeds indoors in peat pots a few weeks before the last frost date in your area.
Should I soak my lettuce seeds before planting?
While it’s certainly not required, soaking lettuce seeds for 12-24 hours before planting can help to speed up germination.
Does lettuce need warmth to germinate?
At 70 to 80°F, the plants flower and produce seed. Lettuce can tolerate a few days of temperatures from 80 to 85°F, provided that nights are cool. Lettuce seed will germinate at 35°F, but optimum germination is 70 to 75°F.
Do seeds germinate better in light or dark?
Most seeds germinate best under dark conditions and might even be inhibited by light (e.g., Phacelia and Allium spp.). However, some species (e.g., Begonia, Primula, Coleus) need light to germinate (Miles and Brown 2007). Don’t confuse seed light requirements with what seedlings need. All seedlings require sunlight.
Why do seeds germinate better in the dark?
The presence of light tends to inhibit their growth. The light decomposes carbonic acid gas and expels oxygen which leads the seed to harden. These gases are key factors that promote germination. In dark environments, the gases remain undisturbed and germination is favoured.
Why do seeds grow faster in the dark?
The light slows stem elongation through hormones that are sent down the stem from the tip of the stem. In the darkness, the hormones do not slow stem elongation. The seeds in the dark-grown condition rely upon the stored chemical energy within their cells (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates) to power their growth.
How long does it take to grow lettuce from seed?
Most lettuce can be harvested between 30 to 70 days after planting. When to harvest lettuce depends on the variety and what it will be used for. Really, timing is based on individual preference. Once your lettuce reaches the size you want, it’s ready!
Can you grow lettuce seeds indoors?
However, salad lovers can grow lettuce indoors, all winter long. Depending upon available sunlight, even urban gardeners can raise a steady supply of your favorite greens on a windowsill or beneath grow lights.
How many hours of light do lettuce seeds need to germinate?
How many hours of light do lettuce seeds need to germinate? Lettuce seeds germinate properly only if you expose them to light for about 12 hours a day. The ideal soil temperature for lettuce seed germination is between 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit.
What color light is best for germinating seeds?
Typically, plants use more blue and blue-green light when they are seedlings, and more red light later on in their life cycles when they begin to flower and produce seeds.
What is the best light for germinating seeds?
Sowing seeds indoors under fluorescent lights is the easiest way for the home gardener to control growing conditions and grow healthy transplants. Incandescent bulbs give off more heat and less light (mostly red) than fluorescent tubes and will not produce good transplants by themselves.
Should you cover lettuce seeds?
Cover with only a fine layer of compost, as lettuce seeds need light to germinate. They should begin to germinate after about 7 days. Once they are big enough to handle, thin the seedlings out to allow 10-20cm between plants and mulch around them with well-rotted compost to lock in moisture and keep them healthy.
Why won’t my lettuce seeds germinate?
Lettuce is fussy about temperature, that’s for sure. It prefers soil temps somewhere between 40 – 80 degrees, but if it’s too warm, it won’t germinate, and too cold, it won’t sprout, either. I planted my lettuce seeds around the same time as I do every year (March) but this year’s March weather was uncertain.
How much light do lettuce seedlings need?
As shown in the table, most leafy greens grow well with at least 5 hours of direct light per day. This means 5+ hours of sunlight hitting the plant leaves is recommended for growing lettuce and other leafy greens.
How often should lettuce be watered?
Lettuce has shallow roots, so plants need consistent watering. Check at least twice a week and water if the soil is dry down to 1 inch deep. Containers of lettuce need to be watered more frequently than garden beds, especially in the summer.