If I plant lettuce seeds how long doe it take before I have a lettuce ready to eat or make a salad? weeks?
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It really depends on the type...Iceberg, butterhead, etc are tightly grown with a firm head of crispy leaves. they will require about 70 to 80 days from seed to table.Leaf or bunching types are loose headed and the the time is cut to about 40 to 45 or 50 days...
Lettuce is a cool weather plant that will quickly bolt and go to seed in hot weather.I know it's too hot here in SC to grow it now.I'll have to wait til the tail end of summer...
Remember, as you thin your plants you can put the small seedlings in your salad as well..
good luck
6 weeks ready for salad
depends though if its bad conditions then it will take longer so accomidate you seeds with the correct situations
It could vary from 50days to 80 days Depending of the variety that you are planting.
Many people think fresh lettuce tastes bitter from bought so be prepared to add a little salt. If prefer home grown lettuce without the salt.
b4 I can answer ur question, sorry, have to ask several questions:
what part of country do you live (need to know climate - avg temps (highs/lows right now, or since you planted?)
what kind of lettuce seeds did you plant? how deep did you plant?
what did you plant them in? do you have a garden and planted in the ground? raised or ground level? or did you plant in a pot? did you plant in compost or some sort of organic soil or just reg dirt? do you have other veggies growing?
beware of too much water...how often are you watering? when are you watering? DONT water at night, promotes fungus & attracts slugs, snails that will eat your lettuce the moment it sprouts...water early am after sun up (after dawn but b4 9 or 10) if possible, but don't allow to sit in water...if you are getting alot of rain, beware, they may rot
didnt realize there wasnt a simple answer did you? let me know the above 'cause it all really matters...
under ideal circumstances, if you aren't getting alot of rain, water just enough to keep moist (not soggy) if moist, but not too much, in the heat of the afternoon you're ok (if it gets hot where you are, ck in afternoon & make sure not dusty dry), if it is too dry, OK to water again in late afternoon, but don't water within 3 hours of darkness and dont get water on leaves, just soak roots, hot sun will boil water droplets & burn leaves...if that is your situation, you should see sprouts within 2-3 days, leafy growth week to 10 days (but depends on your temps)...watch for bugs, slugs & snails...Sevin dust for bugs (small holes in middle of leaves), slugs/snails will eat from edges out (if you see that, put down slug/snail bait pellets)...if you have rabbits, well you're screwed unless you can keep them away...first few leaves I wouldnt eat, just pick/prune/cut off when they start to curl & get brown, then eat next crop of leaves. It won't hurt you to eat them,(unless you've had to spray or put down sevin dust-just RINSE!!!), they'll just taste bitter at first, but you'll have healthier, longer living, better tasting lettuce if you'll let roots get established b4 you start plucking away & eating at it, but again, depends on what variety of lettuce you've planted.
If all goes well, after you've gone thru at least 1-2 leaf cycles & your plants start getting full & bushy...ENJOY! Be sure to fertilize too! If you haven't already, use Osmocote - excellent! (avail @ most Home Improvement/Garden Centers) beige round pellets, plastic pink labeled & shaker topped container. It breaks down with temp of soil instead of water soluble like Miracle Grow, etc. & will last 4 months...just lighly "pepper" in the dirt around the "drip line" (as far out as leaves go) of the plants.
If you do get rabbits, sometimes you can keep them away with:
I know, gross, human hair mixed in the soil, however, most aren't scared of humans anymore. Or, coyote or fox urine (also avail @ garden centers) or Liquid Fence (sprayed 1x week, stinks to high heaven - but don't spray on anything edible just around area.
The newest rabbit deterrent is to plant an Artemisa (sometimes called wormwood...this is a grey, relatively attractive & unique ornamental perennial plant it nearby, like in the same bed with your lettuce, rabbits are highly allergic to them, they have intense memories & will remember where they are & stay away - so the experts say. I havent tried it myself personally, but have had some customers have great success with it & some not. Think it just depends on how domesticated the rabbits are.
Hope this helps & not TMI...let me know what/how you planted, temps, water, etc & I can probably help you more.
just curious, how'd you know to ask me?, this came to my email inbox...I don't do FindHomeAnswers hardly ever...I am a landscaper, but didnt think I'd indicated that anywhere...it's amazing how yahoo hooks you up with the right people tho huh?
Good Luck!
darcmouse (Nancy)
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