[Paul Plots]

I’m having real problems getting lettuce seed to germinate this year. Those that have are slow to grow on.

Usually it’s a cinch but this year very hit and miss.

Is anyone else having problems or is it just me?

[Rangerkris]

Paul I was struggling to with lettuce, i went and got a new packet of seed and they came through in a few days.  Then about a few days later the first lot came through.

[HHH]

Hi Paul. Having the same problems in Mid-Sussex. I think its been the cold and wet: what has come through has been washed away, eaten by our brown friends, or just shivered off its existence. My only successes so far - and limited - have been a few lollo rossos in a bed in my back garden.

My strategy for winning is to attack on three fronts :

A) Bringing on seedlings indoors, pricking out and resowing

B) Replanting now that the soil is warmer and a little drier - with lots of slug death around

C) Cheating - living salads from supermarkets at least offer some kind of display and growth whilst A and B are developing!

I’m having real problems getting lettuce seed to germinate this year. Those that have are slow to grow on.

Usually it’s a cinch but this year very hit and miss.

Is anyone else having problems or is it just me?

[sunshineband]

A tiny pinch of seed scattered on the surface of a pot of compost on the kitchen windowsill has done it for me 

[mumofstig]

Lettuce doesn't mind cold and it usually germinates well and grows easily from early on in the year....even my 5year old seeds are germinating   - but then they stall before they're big enough to plant out  

I'm blaming poor quality compost for their not growing on well this year, cos the ones transplanted into the greenhouse soil have grown on well, those in the same greenhouse but in pots have failed miserably.

[compostqueen]

Little Gem lettuce seed is my nemesis!  I have a new batch of seed after yet another failure to germinate any, and that's not germinated either, although my compost is total pants. It manages to germinate lots of weeds though 

I grew two lots of seed from Seeds of Italy without any problems whatsoever though and they are now planted out, so it's not all bad news

I think it's easy to bury the seeds too deeply. They need to be barely covered 

[lucywil]

Lettuce is the one thing I'm not having trouble with!

[baldy-bob]

Read somewhere that if you put lettuce seed in the fridge for a few days before sowing, they germinate better. I've not tried it myself, because I don't have a problem with lettuce, but if your desperate, anythings worth a try!!!!

[gavinjconway]

Hi Paul... snap with your problem.  I got some seed from pass the parcel and it was out of date but I tried anyway and ... nothing at all. I tried a few batches with different compost and dampness etc and nothing.. so I gave up and bought some new seed from fleabay and it all germinated. So I think lettuce needs to be fresh seed..

[mumofstig]

So I think lettuce needs to be fresh seed..

That's so not true!
Stored correctly it lasts for years.......I have just finished a packet of mixed lettuce from Seeds of Italy (their packets are huge  ) this was it's 5th year 

[DD.]

Still working on "old" packets also!

[gavinjconway]

Mine were a dud then!!

[arugula]

Mine were a dud then!!

They must have been as I'm another vote for old lettuce seed working. And also as already noted they don't mind the cooler temperatures that I have.

[DD.]

My last lot I sowed in a pot outdoors. They've germinated far better and I must have sown too many as they've pushed the compost up in an arch!

[carlrmj]

I've used some seed left over from last year,and got loads of lettuce (lollo rosso)