[barley]

put in 4 or 5 sowings now and ziltch coming up

tried them indoors - in green house - in modules - in trays - covered and uncovered - still nufink 

even brought a new packet of seeds 

now trying them on a wet paper towel 

[mumofstig]

Lettuce don't like hot compost to germinate in.

Can you start them off somewhere cool and shady?

[Beetroot Queen]

I am having a bit of hit and miss germination but transplanted them into poly Nd they all keeled over.

[barley]

never had problems before 

it must just be the temperature's  like you say mum

no problems with any thing else - even my sweet corn all germinated and that's one I do usually struggle with

[Bohobumble]

I can't help with your issue, just share my experience this year:


I sowed a small amount of 6 varieties so far.


The 2 oldest packs of seed didn't germinate, the newest seed germinated the best.


The two packs that didn't germinate as all have been discarded so I shall only repeat sow viable seed. The 'middle aged' seed I shall sow an extra seed per module.


They were all germinated in a cold greenhouse, I will shortly be hardening them off as they prefer to be cool.

[nannytroll]

What a relief it's not just me!! I was too ashamed to admit I can't grow lettuce this year

[sunshineband]

never had problems before 

it must just be the temperature's  like you say mum

no problems with any thing else - even my sweet corn all germinated and that's one I do usually struggle with

If it is warm enough for sweetcorn to germinate then it is too warm for lettuce I reckon.

I didn't even plant my seedlings in the mini-tunnel this year, but out in the open ground, as the weather at the time was so warm.

As mumofstig said, somewhere cool and shady is needed for germination. Should be easier to provide now that a week or two ago

[TheWhiteRabbit]

My plot neighbour sows his directly around this time of year and always gets an awesome crop of lettuce. I noticed his had germinated the other day. Try sowing them directly outdoors with a sprinkling of slug pellets and see if that works.

[Christine]

I'm with you for sowing direct out of doors (mind I usually do mine in tubs) and have never had a problem. The only things I start off indoors (no greenhouse) are courgettes, marrows, pattypan and cucumbers.

[Bohobumble]

I am thinking of growing my lettuce in the north or my greenhouse, I am hoping this is a good choice, residual warmth from the greenhouse without it being too sunny in the midday due to greenhouse plants shading them....


I'm not really a lettuce grower tho, so is this a bad idea?

[compostqueen]

Lettuce seed doesn't keep for long so you have to use freshish seed. I've had some failures already but invested in some new iceberg and romaine seeds and started again. They're now up    An early sowing of Little Gem and butter oak was also a bit hit and miss.  My misticanza sowing was a total failure. That's usually one that can be counted on to flourish no matter what.  Cold compost, cold miserable damp weather after sowing did for them. 

Just write em off and have another go 

[mumofstig]

I had a packet of seed from Seeds of Italy that I sowed 'til it was empty- that was in its 5th year, and it was still germinating well then.

The site's seed storage and longevity info is here 

http://www.allotment-garden.org/seed-saving/seed-storage-life.php

[devonbarmygardener]

I'm struggling with everything poorly germinating this year lettuce included

I think it's the compost rather than the seed

[Beetroot Queen]

I'm struggling with everything poorly germinating this year lettuce included

I think it's the compost rather than the seed

Get some jacks magic sweet, I am sold on it this year

[Dave NE]

I am having the opposite problem this year, I can grow them but I am frightened to put them outside, we have a large population of local birds who will take them down to ground level at the first chance, not sure about the pigeons though, they have turned carnivorous and love dried mealworms , Dave