[kizza]

Hi, I am about to plant some lettuce today (from seed), My question is: Do i plant them straight into the garden? or do they need to be set off in a coldframe? Also how do i plant them eg sprinkle the seeds in? or try and put one indivual seed in at a time?    Sorry for all the questions but i am a mere novice at gardening

[WG.]

At this time of year, they can be sown directly into the ground into a seed bed.  I'd suggest sowing thinly in drills, approx 4" between drills, where they can be easily weeded.   Once they are 1" or so high, you will need to transplant them into final position.

If you have suitable boxes (I use 5litre ice cream tubs), you can use that instead of a seedbed.  The advantage being that you can carry the whole thing around when transplanting; the disadvantage being that you will need to water.

[WG.]

Oh and sow small amounts only.  Repeat sowing after 2 weeks to give you a successional harvest.

[kizza]

Thanks for such a quick reply. So when do i stop sowing. In june?

[WG.]

Thanks for such a quick reply. So when do i stop sowing. In june?

Dunno, your Profile doesn't tell me where you are  :?

[kizza]

Barnsley, South Yorkshire

[WG.]

Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Thanks (helps if you put this in your Profile too).
You are well south of me and I'd plant lettuce in succession through to early August.  Some of the later sowings may not heart up but you'll always get loose leaves off them.
If you like Cos, you can plant Winter Density variety which is pretty hardy (especially with some protection)

[Annie]

As David says but remember slug protection and that in hot dry weather(remember that?)lettuce is hard to germinate and lettuces growing nicely with bolt and head for the sky,you can still pick perfectly usable leaves but successional growing means that they shouldn`t all go at once.The advantages of growing in a tray/pots is that you can transplant them wherever you have room at the time without having a dedicated space.