How close should grow light be to lettuce?

Make sure your plants get at least six hours of darkness each day, advises the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends 16 to 18 hours of light for seedlings and 12 to 14 hours of light for lettuce and herbs.

What kind of light does lettuce need to grow?

The lettuce seedlings need a lot of sun, but make sure wherever you keep the pot isn’t too hot, or else your lettuce will dry out. Fourteen to 16 hours of sunlight is ideal. To get the best harvest, your lettuce should be fed a liquid organic fertilizer after each harvest.

What is the best way to grow lettuce indoors?

Or try microgreens from seed and cut them for salads and sandwiches when they are ready to harvest. Grow lettuce indoors in a hydroponic garden, in a pot or container, or in a grow tent. Keep your plants strong and have lettuce year-round. From seed to seed starting, to harvest, lettuce is a lot of fun to cultivate.

Can lettuce get too much light?

Too Much Daylight for Lettuce Plants Their leaves will toughen and turn bitter, their sap will become milky, and they’ll put up a central seed stem. At that point, unless you’re planning to save seed, you should simply pull the plants and harvest any usable leaves that remain.

Can lettuce grow under 24 hour light?

For best results, place the planters under a light for 24 hours a day. You can also cover your pot with a clear plastic bag and place it in a south-facing window. Check the soil moisture daily and water as needed. Depending on the type of lettuce planted, seeds will begin to sprout in 7 to 14 days.

Does lettuce need full sun?

Although lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it is one of the few vegetables that tolerates some shade. In fact, a spring crop often lasts longer if shaded from the afternoon sun as the season warms. Give lettuce fertile, well-drained, moist soil with plenty of rich organic matter and a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

Does lettuce like full sun or shade?

Soil, Planting, and Care. Although lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it is one of the few vegetables that tolerates some shade. In fact, a spring crop often lasts longer if shaded from the afternoon sun as the season warms. You can grow lots of lettuce in a small space, even a container.

How often should lettuce be watered?

once a week
Unless there is regular rainfall, lettuce must be watered deeply at least once a week- more frequently during periods of drought. Mulch with a layer of compost or clean straw to help the soil retain moisture. A drip-irrigation system is ideal.

Does lettuce need lots of water?

Does water need a lot of water? Lettuce plants will need more water depending on the season of the year. In the spring, when the lettuce is just starting out, make you the plant has enough of water to grow into a healthy bushy lettuce plant.

Where is the best place to plant lettuce?

Place your lettuce plant near a sunny window or a fluorescent grow light. Lettuce plants grow best with direct sunlight. If you’re in a climate with very little sun, purchase a grow light from a plant nursery and position it about 12 inches (30 cm) overhead.

When to start lettuce indoors?

Plant in very early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Lettuce does not like hot weather and seeds won’t even germinate when the soil is too warm. Alternatively, you can start seed indoors 4-6 week before the last frost in your area.

What is the best type of soil for lettuce?

Lettuce does best in sandy loam soil with a high level of moisture-retaining organic matter, but don’t be discouraged if you don’t have those conditions. Lettuce grows all around the world in all types of climates and soils, including your own.

When to plant lettuce seeds?

When To Plant Lettuce Seeds. It’s best to plant lettuce in the early spring or late summer/fall because lettuce does best in cooler temperatures. Plus, lettuce is hardy so it can survive minor frost in early spring and fall.