Seed starting indoors

[Crealcritter]

This week I started a mix of mescaline and romaine lettuce seeds mixed with marigold seeds. They are in clear plastic clams from cookies (turned upside down), well watered and put in the south facing window on the unheated porch. I have been checking them and the container with sugar snap peas to make sure that they don't leak humidity and dry out.
Started basil seeds 3 weeks ago. Nothing on top of the fridge, so I replanted and moved them to the kitchen windowsill. They are in a container that housed Crisco shortening--the stick form. I researched on line and heard that the seeds are very picky and can rot. I may cover them with more soil, remove the ziploc bag and keep watered every day and see what happens. We will see.
Certainly a learning curve. Cherry tomatoes on a heat mat and under grow lights are sprouting.

I've never been successful transplanting lettuce, so I direct sow. Could you please share your technique?

 

[Rammy]

I would like to know, too. So far the only thing I have working from seed is tomatoes and peppers.

 

[flowerbug]

I've never been successful transplanting lettuce, so I direct sow. Could you please share your technique?

my guess is that you want to use deep but somewhat narrow containers and let them grow well to make sure the stem is strong enough and won't break upon transplanting. i've never done it here. can't get Mom to like most greens and she says the lettuce gets too bitter here (i think from it getting too hot too soon). when i have grown leaf lettuces they have been direct sown only. Mom is picky, she doesn't like most leaf lettuces...

 

[Rammy]

Im starting again. Planted some new cauliflower, bunching onions, kale, amd a whole tray of ailsa onions. Just got those from Johnnies so we will see how they do.
Started parsley, basil, thyme, and sage seeds.
Tomatoes and peppers are doing great. Spinach and kale not so much. Kinda frustrated.

 

[ducks4you]

I've never been successful transplanting lettuce, so I direct sow. Could you please share your technique?

I learned how to transplant while buying clearance tomatoes that were several plants together in one pot with a Mass of roots. There are several possibilities and a remedy for each.
1) IF the lettuce is in one cell you can simply soak the cell/pot with water and then use a spoon to lift, prep the hole and the surrounding area, like you would transplanting a tree into it's new hole home, gently transplant and gently water, then mulch around it. You probably have bought lettuce and transplanted this way, it's just been awhile.
OR
2) Soak the lettuce in cells in a bucket for an hour or so. Perhaps you have damaged the roots in the past? This way it will be very much like a bare rooted tree and you need to fill the planting hole with VERY loose soil so that the roots can fill in. I have masses of compost and I use that.
OR
3) While still in the cells or pots, put it out for a few hours, like while you eat dinner, and let it get full sun and full breeze, then bring back inside. Do this for a week before transplanting. AFTER transplanting you can also protect it from the wind with a piece of cardboard, until it can handle the elements.

You might also cover around the roots after planted with starter soil. It is loose and friable. Lettuce has shallow roots that can dry out quickly. It would also help to cover it for a week until it settles in, but you don't have to if you will baby it every day for a week. Think of the transplant like putting down sod, and it may make more sense.
I am tired of direct sowing and watching the weeds try to take over, so I now start inside. Hope this helps you.

 

[ducks4you]

Im starting again. Planted some new cauliflower, bunching onions, kale, amd a whole tray of ailsa onions. Just got those from Johnnies so we will see how they do.
Started parsley, basil, thyme, and sage seeds.
Tomatoes and peppers are doing great. Spinach and kale not so much. Kinda frustrated.

We ALL have small failures, but they are just plants...NOT kittens!!! Keep trying. I know I do.
Seems like I should have some medals for all of the plants that I have killed in my gardening battles!!!

 

[Dirtmechanic]

my guess is that you want to use deep but somewhat narrow containers and let them grow well to make sure the stem is strong enough and won't break upon transplanting. i've never done it here. can't get Mom to like most greens and she says the lettuce gets too bitter here (i think from it getting too hot too soon). when i have grown leaf lettuces they have been direct sown only. Mom is picky, she doesn't like most leaf lettuces...

Mom knows best. I like most salads, if they are called that with cabbage, but not lettuce, unless its a chicken or salmon ceasar type dish.

 

[Crealcritter]

 

[Dirtmechanic]

I dunno, I would trade cooler for sunny!

 

[Crealcritter]

I learned how to transplant while buying clearance tomatoes that were several plants together in one pot with a Mass of roots. There are several possibilities and a remedy for each.
1) IF the lettuce is in one cell you can simply soak the cell/pot with water and then use a spoon to lift, prep the hole and the surrounding area, like you would transplanting a tree into it's new hole home, gently transplant and gently water, then mulch around it. You probably have bought lettuce and transplanted this way, it's just been awhile.
OR
2) Soak the lettuce in cells in a bucket for an hour or so. Perhaps you have damaged the roots in the past? This way it will be very much like a bare rooted tree and you need to fill the planting hole with VERY loose soil so that the roots can fill in. I have masses of compost and I use that.
OR
3) While still in the cells or pots, put it out for a few hours, like while you eat dinner, and let it get full sun and full breeze, then bring back inside. Do this for a week before transplanting. AFTER transplanting you can also protect it from the wind with a piece of cardboard, until it can handle the elements.

You might also cover around the roots after planted with starter soil. It is loose and friable. Lettuce has shallow roots that can dry out quickly. It would also help to cover it for a week until it settles in, but you don't have to if you will baby it every day for a week. Think of the transplant like putting down sod, and it may make more sense.
I am tired of direct sowing and watching the weeds try to take over, so I now start inside. Hope this helps you.

All lettuce I've ever tried to transplant gets stunned or wilts and dies. It's so much easier to just how a shallow trench, sprinkle some seeds and rake the trench flat. Always had good success this way. I guess I don't have the "touch" and am probably to rough.