Here's and … I like to pull up the smaller seedlings that look less vigorous and leave the stronger looking plants. She also runs her own lifestyle blog, Sweet Frivolity (www.sweetfrivolity.com). Nobody likes to thin seedlings. Leaf lettuces are usually ready to harvest within six to eight weeks from planting; check the seed packet to know when to expect harvest. In order to get the best-tasting yield, leaf lettuces should be properly thinned. Tip #4: Starting Lettuce Seeds in a Garden. Water when the soil is dry; the best time to … Head lettuce is usually grown from seeds started indoors during warm weather for a fall garden. Luckily, lettuce shouldn’t be planted too deeply. However, even leaf lettuce should be properly spaced in a garden. The best approach is to plant seeds in a row, then wait until sprouts reach a few inches in height; most leaf lettuces should be thinned to about 4 to 6 inches apart, but check the information on the seed packet to confirm the desired distance. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. If this is the case, use clean kitchen shears to snip off the seedlings at ground level. Second, floppy seedlings have a hard time growing up to be strong plants. All plants need air circulation. Lettuce seeds are small, so it can be difficult to plant them at specific intervals. This can sometimes be discouraging, especially for anyone just starting the farming journey. The seedlings you thin out can be washed and eaten too. Transplanting lettuce seedlings before they get leggy is a matter of timing; lettuce is a cool-weather plant and does best when outdoor temperatures are in the 60s and 70s. The plants are ready for thinning when the second set of true leaves shows up. She holds a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University. Lettuce grows best in sheltered areas with a few hours of direct sunlight. Closely examine the plants. However, the seedlings won't be perfectly spaced. I positioned the trays in the bright test window in my house but the seedlings … Lettuce prefers the cooler temperatures of spring and fall, but can be grown during the summer if given enough shade and water. Use the plants that were thinned out to make a salad so they don’t have to go to waste. Thin by Rake (Optional) If you are growing vegetable seedlings in blocks rather than rows, you can run a flexible rake through the seedlings to thin them out. Although, each variety will vary so be sure to check its seed … Thin seedlings as soon as the first true leaves appear and continue until the plants are 30cm (12in) apart. Aim to thin leaves … Leaf lettuces should be direct sown whenever possible, meaning that the seeds are planted where the plants will mature. If you have ever tried planting vegetables, you will admit that your seedlings becoming leggy is a nemesis that is difficult to avoid.. Step 1. It also reduces competition between the plants for resources and improves air circulation. Sow lettuce seed into beds very … Prepare seed trays. Thin plants to correct spacing once they reach a few inches tall. Raking will free up more space for remaining seedlings to grow and is much faster than plucking or cutting seedlings … See the “How To Choose Which Seedlings To Thin” section above to figure out which seedlings to thin, and which ones to keep. Thinning your plants gives them space to grow to larger leaves and dense hearts. Thin using a garden scissors to snip off … Here’s how to thin vegetable seedlings: Thin seedlings in the cool of the day or an hour or so after they have been watered; the seedlings will be plump with moisture. Seedlings should have at least two pairs of true leaves and be about 3 to 4 inches (7.5-9 cm.) Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketer from upstate New York. The leaves are ready to be eaten when they are firm but not hard (lettuce becomes woody if harvested too late); older leaves should be harvested, even if not to eat, to stimulate the growth of new leaves. Since old lettuces will eventually bolt, making them bitter, don’t be afraid to harvest an entire plant before it passes its peak. Two weeks after seeding a garden bed with lettuce you’ll have tons of little seedlings popping out of the ground. Learn which variety of lettuce you are planting and know it’s growing needs. Thin leaf lettuce seedlings to 4 inches apart. When to sow Lettuce seeds. Decide which seedlings to thin out – Choose the strongest seedling in the bunch to keep, and then thin the rest. Log in, 11 Ways to Keep Your Chickens Cool This Summer ». Leaf lettuce that is packed in too tightly without adequate air circulation can often taste bitter because each individual plant is competing for resources; it can also go to seed early (a process called bolting) which ruins the taste. Cut the seedlings at soil level to thin root vegetables. Evening hours are a good time to thin seedlings as the cooler temps and … (You can try transplanting the thinnings but why waste your time when lettuce seed is so cheap). Use a small pair of scissors to cut the shoots off the seedlings you aren’t keeping. Romaine and butterhead lettuce seedlings require 6 to 8 inches between each plant. She owns her own content marketing agency, Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing (www.wordsmythcontent.com), and she enjoys writing home and DIY articles and blogs for clients in a variety of related industries. 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