When to harvest lettuce seed pods?
Seeds develop on each branch in turn over an extended period of time. When the light gray pappuses emerge from a mature lettuce head—a stage sometimes referred to as feathering—the seeds inside are fully developed and ready to be harvested. Although lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it is one of the few vegetables that tolerates some shade. In fact, a spring crop often lasts longer if shaded from the afternoon sun as the season warms. You can grow lots of lettuce in a small space, even a container.Direct Sowing Lettuce It is easiest and most efficient to sow your seeds by roughing up the earth where you wish to plant them, scatter your seeds over the worked area (don’t be too heavy-handed), and then very lightly cover the area with a light dusting of topsoil or peat moss so that light can still reach the seeds.Lettuce prefers a bright, open position with good air circulation to promote strong, disease-free growth. Lettuce is a cool-season crop, so in hot climates, you may get better results growing it in a cooler, shadier spot, especially as the young plants start out.Lettuce thrives and grows fastest in full sun, but it also grows well in light shade. In warmest regions, try to select a growing spot that offers afternoon shade. The ideal soil for growing lettuce is moist but well-drained.I love using a paper bag. Once you get the bag inside with the flower heads, break the heads apart with your hands and the seeds will fall out. Lettuce seeds will be rather small and oval-shaped, in a variety of colors (white, brown and even dark gray). Let the seeds dry completely before you store them.
How many lettuce seeds per hole?
Leaf lettuce doesn’t really get overcrowded to the point where it’s detrimental to the plant. They’re a shallow rooted plant. I sow them 5 apart, 2-4 seeds per hole and never thin them out. Grow. Lettuce has shallow roots, so plants need consistent watering. Check at least twice a week and water if the soil is dry down to 1 inch deep. Containers of lettuce need to be watered more frequently than garden beds, especially in the summer.Depending on the variety and time of year, lettuce generally lives 65–130 days from planting to harvesting. Because lettuce that flowers (through the process known as bolting) becomes bitter and unsaleable, plants grown for consumption are rarely allowed to grow to maturity.So, Is It Safe to Eat Bolting Lettuce? The leaves of bolting lettuce plants are still 100 percent safe to eat. Their flavor, however, will change. These plants are long past their peak of flavor now that their only focus is producing seeds.Let the lettuce continue growing – not awfully attractive but maybe the flowers will help attract and support some populations of beneficial insects. Produce a crop of lettuce seed – not recommended, as future generations from the seed may show an inherited tendency bolt and run to seed too quickly.This is why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow air circulation while it’s held in the fridge. Removing the air does help prevent oxidation, which causes lettuce to turn brown, but it has nothing to do with keeping lettuce crisp.
How long does lettuce take to grow in pots?
In near-perfect conditions, a lettuce seedling is big enough to move into either a garden, allotment or container about four weeks after planting. Here’s the complete timeline: Week 1: Most seeds sprout within four to seven days. Week 2: The sprouts develop their first set of true leaves. So, Is It Safe to Eat Bolting Lettuce? The leaves of bolting lettuce plants are still 100 percent safe to eat. Their flavor, however, will change. These plants are long past their peak of flavor now that their only focus is producing seeds.Can I eat lettuce that has already bolted? Yes, you can still eat lettuce after it has bolted. It is best to eat bolted lettuce in dishes that require cooked lettuce or a bitter green as the lettuce will not be as tender and sweet if it were eaten fresh.In theory, bolted lettuce is still edible and non-toxic, however a taste test is always a good idea. The leaves tend to become tougher, more bitter and may not be enjoyable. The plant builds up bitter substances to make them less appetising for predators.Lettuce grows fastest when temperatures are cool and when there is an abundance of rain. It’s therefore best to plant it early in spring. The end of summer is another good time to plant it, but you have to catch the right moment.Bolting is triggered by warm weather and the long days of summer, usually when the daytime temperatures climb above 75°F, and nighttime temperatures are over 60°F. After bolting, lettuce leaves taste bitter and grow slowly. The plant uses most of its energy to produce flowers and seeds before dying.