How to Start Lettuce Seeds

Germinate lettuce seeds to grow lettuce in your home garden.

Lettuce begins growing in the early spring, and its growth stunts in the summer. Lettuce prefers temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Lettuce grows in a variety of leafs such as butterhead, stem and romaine. Extend the growing season by germinating lettuce seeds indoors before transplanting them outdoors. Transplant lettuce seedlings in early spring once the threat of frost passes.

Things You'll Need

• Seed-starting tray Garden soil Spray bottle Plastic wrap

Instructions

1. Fill a seed-starting tray with garden soil designed for vegetables.

2. Spread lettuce seeds over the soil. Avoid letting the seeds lay on top of each other.

3. Add a thin, ¼-inch layer of soil over the top of the lettuce seeds. Pat the soil down gently to keep them protected.

4. Cover the seeds loosely with plastic wrap.

5. Water the soil with a spray bottle to keep it moist. Maintain a temperature between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Place the seed tray in a sunny location. The lettuce seeds need six hours of sunlight a day.

7. Water the soil daily to keep it moist. Once the seeds sprout, remove the plastic wrap. Thin out the weak seedlings so that they grow 6 inches apart. Harden the lettuce seedlings outdoors before you permanently plant them in the garden.

References

• University of Hawaii: Lettuce for the Home Garden
• Ohio State University: Growing Lettuce in the Home Garden
• University of Illinois: Lettuce