Hey everyone! I'm new here and really excited to be part of this group. I have a backyard that only gets a few hours of sunlight, but I've had success growing lettuce there before using one of those pre-made pots from Home Depot. It was wonderful picking fresh lettuce for my salads every day! I'm planning to grow lettuce again this year, but I'm wondering if I should start from seeds this time. Am I too late to plant seeds, or should I just pick up some pre-started plants from Home Depot? I'm also considering trying other leafy greens in my backyard, and I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!
5 Answers
Now's actually a great time to start lettuce from seeds, depending on your local temperatures! They germinate best in soil temperatures around 50°F, so why not give it a shot? If you're new to seed starting, I recommend getting seeds from places like Dollar Tree—they're often reliable and not expensive, so if it doesn’t go well, you won’t break the bank on failed attempts!
I say go for it and start your lettuce from seeds! You can sow them directly in the ground, and they should do just fine. It’s totally worth it!
You're definitely not too late! Mine are just starting to pop up now in my garden. Trust me, the best plants come from direct sowing seeds. If you're looking for quality, I’ve had good luck with Ed Hume seeds!
I actually did an experiment last fall in a shaded area of my yard, and surprisingly, leafy greens did really well, along with radishes. Celery thrives in partial shade too. Try out whatever you can that doesn’t rely heavily on flower production—those need more sun!
It’s definitely not too late to start lettuce from seed outdoors as long as the temperature stays under about 80-85°F; hot weather can mess with germination. You can even start them indoors and transplant them outside later. As for the Home Depot suggestion, I’d advise against it since lettuce is super easy to grow from seeds. You can save a lot more by doing it this way. Plus, consider trying other greens like Swiss chard, kale, or mustard greens—they're beginner-friendly too! Happy planting!
Thanks for the encouragement! I’ll definitely give it a shot.