Saturday, September 20, 2025
Lettuce is a cool season leafy green. Until temperatures cool off in summer, you may think your lettuce seeds are no good because you are not getting them to sprout outdoors. If it is still hot outdoors, the culprit is likely just the heat. The seeds will not germinate well in ground temps above 70 degrees F.
There are a couple of options for late summer time seeding of lettuce. You can grow in shade, cover with a shade cloth or start your seedlings indoors and transplant outdoors.
I like to start mine in long pots in the shade, close to the watering can on the northeast side of the house. The seedlings will be up in 7 days if kept well watered. I let them grow until they have the first set of true leaves, are about 2” tall, and temperatures are no longer in the 80's for highs. If transplanted before it cools down, they can bolt. I transplant them into their permanent home, fertilize and keep them well watered for another couple of weeks or until the fall rains start.
I put all my greens in self watering Earthboxes that I cover with a portable greenhouse when it starts getting below freezing. This method keeps us in salads all winter long.
If you want to direct seed in your flower bed, dig a shallow trench about a half inch deep, fill with potting soil, seed, pat down, then cover lightly with more potting soil. Lettuce seed requires some light to germinate so don't bury too deep.
Water well with a gentle stream of water so you don’t wash the seed away. I use a rain head on my watering can. Until the average temperature gets below 70F, germination may be erratic planting directly in the garden bed, but they should eventually sprout when it cools off.
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