Will Lettuce Seeds Germinate In Cold Weather?

Onions and lettuce can even germinate at soil temperatures as low as 35 degrees!

What temperature do lettuce seeds germinate?

70 to 75°F.
Lettuce can tolerate a few days of temperatures from 80 to 85°F, provided that nights are cool. Lettuce seed will germinate at 35°F, but optimum germination is 70 to 75°F. If the plants are sufficiently hardened, they will withstand freezing.

What temp is too cold for lettuce?

Lettuce may cope with light freezing and even one or two hard freezes, but once the thermometer reads 25°F or below, the plants are in danger. That level of cold causes ice to form in the plant tissue, regardless of the amount of moisture in the air.

Will seeds germinate in cold weather?

Most seeds will germinate over quite a wide range of soil temperatures but the speed of germination will vary. Too cold and they’ll be very slow to sprout and too hot will also reduce the speed of germination. Far too cold or hot and they’ll just fail.

Why are my lettuce seeds not germinating?

If your lettuce seeds don’t germinate, they are most likely old. Otherwise, you may have planted them too deep, or the soil is too warm, too wet, or too dry.

What is the fastest way to germinate lettuce seeds?

You can soak your lettuce seeds before planting to encourage faster germination. Put them in clean water and let them sit for a day or so before planting. However, this is not required – as long as the growing medium is moist and warm, the lettuce seeds should germinate well.

When should I start lettuce seeds indoors?

Start lettuce indoors 4 weeks before transplanting; sow or transplant lettuce into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked. Seed germinates in 2 to 10 days at or near 70°F (21°C)—but sometimes seed can take up to 2 weeks to germinate if the soil is cold.

Can lettuce seeds survive freezing?

Lettuce seedlings will generally tolerate a light frost and, unlike most vegetables, continue to grow through the fall when the possibility is a probability in some regions. That said, cold, clear nights may create frost damage in lettuce, especially if the duration of the cold snap is lengthy.

What month do you plant lettuce?

Lettuce is a cool weather crop and is best grown in spring and fall. The seeds germinate in temperatures as low as 40 F (4 C) but its ideal germination and growing temperature is between 60 and 65 F (16 to 18 C).

How long does lettuce take to germinate?

about seven days
They must be sown very shallowly or they won’t come up as they need light to germinate. Use good potting soil from your garden supplier in your tray or pot, not soil out of your back yard, and water them gently after sowing. Keep them moist but not wet and they will emerge in about seven days.

What seeds germinate in winter?

Some edible options for winter sowing include the classic cool-season crops – like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Leafy greens – like lettuce, kale and bok choy – are also hardy annual options. Herbs like sage, oregano, dill, and mint are good winter sowing candidates too.

What happens if seeds get too cold?

If a seed is damaged by cold temperatures, drowns or dries out after germination begins it is not likely to survive and grow. Germination is directly related to moisture and temperature. Seeds cannot germinate without moisture – this is why pre-soaking seeds speeds sprouting.

How do you germinate seeds in the cold?

​How to Speed Up Seed Germination During Winter and Spring

1. Soak Them In Water. There’s not much easier advice than this!
2. Scarification. Scarification is another physical means of speeding up seed germination.
3. Seed Stratification.
4. Keep Them Warm.
5. Don’t Forget to Harden Them Off.
6. Then Come Back For Your Gardening Tool!

Do lettuce seeds germinate in the dark?

Light is required for some lettuce seeds to grow. When seeds fail to germinate in the dark, they’re called “photosensitive” or “photodormant.” Once they do emerge, to grow a field of lettuce with heads that are all relatively the same size (uniform), the seedlings must all spend an equal amount of time in the sun.

Does lettuce need cold stratification?

Lettuce seed, which goes dormant at higher temperatures, takes to stratification. Some tree seed, including maple, walnut, and apple, require some kind of stratification. Many perennial herb seeds do better after getting the cold, stratification treatment.

Can you germinate lettuce in paper towel?

Paper towel seed germination for Lettuce. Gardeners sometimes germinate seeds, such as lettuce seeds, indoors by using a paper towel. This is an easy method to test the viability of seeds that have been in storage for more than a year.

Should lettuce seeds be covered?

While most lettuce seeds need to be barely covered (or sown on the surface of the soil), pelleted seeds need to be buried by about 1cm (1/2″). Please keep your newly sown pelleted seeds evenly moist – use more water than with conventional seeds.

Is it better to start lettuce indoors?

To grow lettuce in containers, use quality outdoor potting mix. (Garden soil is heavier than potting soil, and will not drain adequately in a pot.) For a jumpstart on the spring garden, start lettuce seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your area’s last hard frost — which is around 28 degrees overnight.

How often do you water lettuce seeds?

Watering Lettuce Seeds
Place your lettuce seeds about 1 1/2″ to 2″ below the soil. The soil covering the seeds should not be densely packed. Water every other day at the most. You could easily water twice a week when sprouting lettuce plants to increase your chances of healthy plants.

What is the easiest lettuce to grow?

Loose leaf lettuce
Loose leaf lettuce, which refers to varieties that don’t form any type of head, is considered the easiest to grow. It matures in 40-45 days, but no need to wait that long to enjoy it! You can start thinning (and eating the trimmings) in as little as three weeks.

Can you grow lettuce indoors in the winter?

However, salad lovers can grow lettuce indoors, all winter long. Depending upon available sunlight, even urban gardeners can raise a steady supply of your favorite greens on a windowsill or beneath grow lights.