Getting the best germination from lettuce seed

[Gianna]

It's time to replenish my lettuce seed stock. My current seed is getting pretty old and germination rates have fallen significantly. I don't especially want to have to buy anymore seed - though that's always a temptation.  

There are about 10 varieties I want more of. I won't remember them all now, but some are a version of Sierra, Simpson elite, Ruby (lighter strain), cherokee, grenoble, faux 'marvel of 4 seasons', and the real 4 seasons, a floppy butter lettuce, and a few more.

I start my lettuce seeds in 20 cell plug flats (cut down from larger flats for ease in handling) then transplant. I am wondering what seed starting mix works the best. In the past almost anything 'sterile' would do, but not so much now.

It's not been very hot here lately, so I don't think heat is a problem. If it warms up too much, I can pop them into a 55* fridge during the daytime. Till they germinate anyway.

I have some of these varieties currently growing now in gallon containers in a quasi passive hydroponic system (to counter summer weather - works great) and will label and let some of those go to seed.

I've occasionally read that lettuce requires light to germinate, but with fresh seed, I've never much bothered.

Anything else I can do to get better germination rates from my old seed?

[billw]

It really comes down to how much you are planting. You should pre-soak the seed for at least 12 hours to get it primed. If you are planting just a few of each in order to get a seed crop, then you can start them in paper towels and plant out those that germinate. If you are doing a large planting, just sow thickly and some of them are bound to come up.

If you want good lettuce seed germination, keep it relatively cool and moist. I doubt that your starting mix matters that much, so long as it retains moisture well.

The good news is that, by waiting until germination has started to fail, you are selecting for plants with longer seed life.

[steev]

I went out and cut seed-heads from my lettuce patch today, not really sure why I bother; just habit, I guess; not a lot of work, just not a lot of product.

[richardw]

I think you are right Bill,any starting mix is fine,i have used screened compost for years and normally have a good strike rate.

When my lettuces start growing there flower heads i tie each plant to a bamboo stick,then when i look to gather some of the seed i untie from the bamboo put a bag over the head and bend over the plant a wee way and shake,then tie it up again because the plants do flower for quite a while so you can do the same again a few times.
You may not need to worry where you are gianna but ive found always gather the seed before any rain because the rain tends to cause the seed to drop to the ground where in dry weather it stays put.

[littleminnie]

They do need light to germinate but that happens from not sowing them deeply. I know some people keep lettuce seed in the freezer to help hot weather germination. I have been working on having summer lettuce this season. The only variety I was truly happy with was Sierra. Even Jericho bolted very quickly!

Here is the latest planting. More this week.

[Gianna]

Thanks for the responses. You've given me some good ideas. (Rain? what's that? )

I ended up sewing them about 3-4 seeds per small cell. If there is good germination, they are easy to divide or thin. I gave them a light treatment (If I recall from reading a few years ago, it only takes 15 minutes of sunshine to be effective.), covered them thinly w mix and popped them into the fridge set at 55*F for a couple of days. They are now in the house and as soon as the first seed germinates, outside into the light they will go. I planted 8 varieties, 20 cells each.

Sierra is always my best summer lettuce. And cherokee too. This year it's just not been that hot in August, so all the lettuce has been good. Black-seeded simpson bolting almost immediately of course. But it's a keeper anyway. Very dependable.

On a side note, I'm also germinating some really old spinach seed (variety 'space'). This stuff is from the year 2,000. I didn't expect much, but I already have 60% germination, and it's not finished sprouting yet. It also is planted in small plug flats, and given the 55* fridge treatment, first in a damp cloth, then into mix and watered, and back into the fridge till the first sign of sprouting. They are now outside in the sun and looking very good. Better than I ever could have expected.

[Gianna]

Of the 8 varieties I planted, I got at least 6 seeds from each to germinate. Except one that was jsut too old. But that variety was only fair anyway. Cardinale - an interesting red-leafed Battavian but not one of my favorites, so no real loss.

It's also warming up more, so I think I'm going to have to use some light shade cloth. We usually have warm August and Sept. There is usually a heat wave the first week of school.