Lettuce (Winter Production - Greenhouse)

Growing lettuce successfully is not as simple as it may seem. The soil should be in good heart and have adequate levels of moisture and lime. Timely thinning to avoid overcrowding and build up of disease is vital. Try to keep plants growing consistently by watering in dry weather as this helps to avoid bolting. Soil pests can be controlled with a proprietary chemical, while slugs will need to be dealt with. Downy mildew and botrytis can also be a problem and can be treated with relevant fungicides.

We are delighted to be able to offer to you, a range of pelleted lettuce seed this season. We have received many requests over the past few years and now, thanks to the collaboration with Rijk Zwaan UK Ltd, we have many eye catching, tasty and exciting new introductions for you. Rijk Zwaan varieties are easily recognisable throughout this section as each of their varieties have the letters RZ following the varietal name. With this range we are able to offer the very latest up-to-date varieties, with the best disease  resistances available; in short professional quality seed for the home gardener.

'Pelleted Seed' is simply a seed which has been enclosed within a clay based material, this splits open when water is applied. It makes them easier to see and handle. (Please note, in our range none of these pellets will have been chemically treated and many are in fact organic). These pellets can be spaced more precisely which will reduce the need for thinning and can also be sown direct into module trays. Pelleted seeds will have a letter P after their codes. Sow as for normal lettuce; however when sowing do not be tempted to bury the pellets too deep, just beneath the surface will suffice.

These lettuces are ideal for the unheated greenhouse, however temperatures do need to be kept above -1C (30F). During the winter months lettuce needs to be germinated at a minimum of 15C (59F) to over come the short day length. Do not be tempted to hold the seedlings at too higher temperature or else they will become leggy! The optimum regime would be to germinate at 18C (64F) and then after 72 hours slowly reduce temperature down to 12C (53F) over 2-3 weeks. The best time to plant out into your greenhouse will vary depending on the time of year as the raising stage would range from 4 weeks (from a sowing in late August) to 9 weeks (from sowings in November to December).  These short-day (winter) lettuces will stand frosts of -5C (23F) providing they are not at full maturity and the frost comes out of the head by mid day.  Most commercial growers will use a temperature regime of 5C (41F) overnight and 11C (52F) during the day. These varieties should produce a fresh supply of lettuce from November through to June.