I'm in Zone 6a/7b in Massachusetts and I'm considering starting lettuce seeds indoors in trays today. Would a south-facing window provide enough light for them to grow until I'm ready to harden them off and transplant soon?
4 Answers
I’m in zone 7b, and I successfully grew lettuce in my south-facing window until just recently when I moved them outside. Now I’ve got pepper plants in that spot, and they’re actually growing faster than my plants under grow lights! So, it can work, but results may vary depending on your setup.
I think starting the seeds in a south-facing window will work, but keep in mind that in Massachusetts, especially this time of year, the days are still quite short. You should be able to plant them outside in about 4 weeks. I ended up getting some grow lights to give my seedlings a boost indoors.
You can definitely start the seeds, but just keep an eye on how tall they get. They might not get enough light to grow into strong transplants.
The amount of light your plants get really depends on your specific setup. Some windows might have coatings that reduce light or just aren't big enough to let in enough direct sun for most of the day. Plus, if it’s chilly outside, those near the window can get too cold. Lettuce is generally pretty forgiving compared to other crops, so if it's only for a couple of weeks, you might be fine. But if you’re starting a lot of plants, considering some extra lighting could help them thrive more.
I need to get better at turning my plants regularly too! It's such a good habit to keep them growing evenly.