[rowlandwells]

having bought a packet of winter lettuce seed Vailan [winter gem] I'm not quite sure of the best way to grow these as I've never grew winter lettuce before

I know its the same method as growing summer lettuce in a seed tray etc but overwintering that's the bit that I'm not sure about should I grow them in our cold greenhouse in pots or in the poly tunnel in pots and with the cooler weather approaching what would be the best time to sow for a lettuce at Christmas if poss!!

[mumofstig]

SOW INDOORS August-September in a frame or unheated greenhouse Depth Quarter inch/0.5cm Plant out When large enough to handle to large pots or deep growing bags in an unheated greenhouse or plant in the greenhouse border Spacing 10in/25cm Repeat sowings every 2-3 weeks for a continuous supply throughout the winter Harvest October-March

DT Brown

By repeat sowing you allow for most of the weather fluctuations that happen between now and then.

[sunshineband]

I have overwintered these successfully under plastic cloches, and in a small polytunnel too. They didn't grow all that much once the cold weather set in but sat ready to be eaten, and any left soon took off come the Springtime.

I sow in a small pot, prick out the seedlings into modules, six largest first and then a week later the next six, then the final ones and this seems to give a reasonable succession