Growing Lettuce

Mach Two

I love fresh lettuce so last year I purchased a propagator to grow it. I put topsoil in the bottom of it and moss peat on top of that. About 4" of it and about 8" of top soil. The lettuce seeds start to grow to about 2-3" and then start withering. What am I doing wrong. The propagator has a clear plastic cover on it with 2 vents.

bullpost

Too hot I'd guess. Lettuce likes coolish temperatures

monseiur

Daily watering is essential especially when undercover

HeidiHeidi

I fired some lettuce seeds into basic soil with a bit of bagged compost mixed in a few weeks ago (a rush of blood to the head on a warm sunny day) and they're at the baby leaf stage now.

They're in a sheltered, south-facing raised bed. I suspect I got lucky, and there were no hard frosts since then - but I have never bothered with the windowsill/propagator/nursing stages, and I've always had more than I can eat from a handful of seeds.

Mach Two

I changed my opening post to 4" of compost. Is the compost too deep?

I use the propagator because of the slugs. Serious problem around here.

Supercell

I've given up on lettuce and cabbage, the slugs won. Only one I had good luck with was Chinese cabbage as it grows so tightly, but prone to bolting, though thats probably on me!

Mach Two

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120570510#Comment_120570510

I have the legs of my propagator in a bowl of water. One bowl per leg. Slugs are not a problem anymore. Simple solution to a major problem.

Mach Two

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120570308#Comment_120570308

Why should it be. The water condenses on the lid and flows back down to the soil.