October 2, 2013

My post last week on planting lettuce suggests when to plant lettuce. Here’s how I do it. See my earlier post on planting broccoli for details about seed starting mix. I’m planting a few lettuce varieties for later transplant to the garden.

These varieties I want to grow as heads so I’m giving them a jump on the season.. Direct seeding in the garden works for mesclun lettuce and other varieties that I grow in tidy rows.

The heirloom lettuce on the left is one I’ve grown for years. Last season results were marginal with direct seeding into the garden so I’m sowing for transplant. ‘Redina’ will be a striking contrast planted next to the ’Merveille De Quatre Saisons.’

Milled sphagnum moss minimizes seedling losses from damping off, a fungal disease. 

No warming tray needed in my sunny kitchen window. I expect germination in five to seven days, maybe sooner. Broccoli seeds started here were up in four days.

Meanwhile, I’m dreaming of winter garden salads. Fuyu persimmons,seen here, ripen soon.

Update after posting:

Here’s what I found this morning. Lettuce is up on the fourth day. See the haze of gray? I’m concerned that it could lead to damping off. Cover stays off once the seeds emerge and I put the seedlings on the warming tray since the sun was in and out today. Note to self: Next time use the warming tray.