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Vegetable Gardening

What does start seeds every week mean?

colleen_gardener

16 years ago

Sorry to be so lame but in my below post that I also asked on the container forum, I asked about growing lettuce in a container and a few people suggested that I start seeds every week. What does that mean? Put new seeds in the same container as where the lettuce is growing? Won't that overcrowd the container?

Thanks so much

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Comments (14)

ruthieg__tx
16 years ago
No what you will do is use a new space or/unless...if you have thinned out the lettuce bed enough then you can reseed the same area...I alway use the edge of a bed for my lettuse...no matter what else is growing in the bed....I scrunch in my lettuce ...the other plants don't seem to mind and they offer some shade to the lettuce...
tcstoehr
16 years ago
The point is to stagger the planting of your lettuce so that it all doesn't ripen at once and you end up with to much all at one time. If you don't have much space, then it may not be an issue. If I didn't stagger my corn plantings I'd have 250 ears of corn all ready to eat during the same week. So if you have the space, plant a portion of it one week and another portion the next week and so on.
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darkcloud
16 years ago
i have to wonder why you didnt ask the people who told you, 'what did you mean'
really for eveyone else would be a guess right
carol_71
16 years ago
Colleen, additionally, when itÂs time to harvest you can use the outside leaves and let the crop produce more leaves for a couple of times more. You should cut then a 20-30% of each plant per time, and cut not too close to the base of the leaves.
Remember you can tuck in between lettuces (in some corners of the containers), some chives and parsley, so you can add to your salads.

Carol
colleen_gardener
Original Author
16 years ago
Dear Darkcloud,
I did ask but was asking for others thoughts and the people who told me that didn't answer just yet. If you don't want to answer my question, fine but you don't have to be nasty.
franked1
16 years ago
I thought too stagger your plantings meant to have a beer while you seed/plant--live & learn
billtex
16 years ago
fez920,, you are on the wrong forum...bill
mid_tn_mama
16 years ago
Good Question! Isn't wonderful for new gardeners to have a place to learn? This question will help untold numbers who wonder the same thing.

I wanted to add to the excellent responses so far by adding that planting your garden in increments also ensures that even if you have a pest, that pest's peak won't hit at a critical time on all your plants.

I organically garden and figure some losses to bugs, but know that I can wait them out and come out just fine. I've had bean plants that looked just awful come through and produce a huge crop of beans!

Enjoy!
bigoledude
16 years ago
Just like the family car. If you're not using them often, you should start 'em up and let them run for a little while. Do this "Start 'em every week" to keep the battery fresh.

Please don't get angry, I promise, this was the first (stupid) thing that popped into my bigolehead. Ray
colleen_gardener
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you everyone! I am very new to gardening and am enjoying it very much! All your help is very much appreciated!
raisemybeds
16 years ago
Colleen, everytime I harvest something I pat in some lettuce seed in the empty spot. Soon I have young lettuce growing there. There are "patches" of lettuce at different stages/ages all over my garden. The idea is to always have some coming in to replace what is "spent".. Leaf lettuce, which I grow, yields a few clippings and then eventually gets too mature and bolts, or goes to seed. The heat makes this happen rather quickly, so in the warmer months you want to be succession-planting your lettuces. After awhile you will see how lettuce grows and behaves, and then you will get it.
nygardener
16 years ago
A lot of people also plant lettuce in shade during the hot weather. You can move your container to a shady spot (or put a beach umbrella over it) during hot weather and put it back in the sun when the weather is cool (or just leave it in the shade during the hot months).
darkcloud
16 years ago
colleen
i am sorry you felt my observation was nasty. i only meant to say that whoever told would be better able to clarify what they meant where for others it would be just a guess.

it seems that someone did reply to your question 30mins before your post here, you should have had that anqwer in your email ;-)

just another observation

"Start the seeds every week or two until early fall, and you'll have plenty of Lettuce up until late fall.

o
RE: Lettuce in a container question

* Posted by colleen_gardener 6 Bayonne, NJ (My Page) on
Sat, Jun 9, 07 at 19:14

How much sun/shade does lettuce need? Is it like tomatoes where it needs a lot of sun and water? I don't understand what you mean by start seeds every week or two until early fall - keep putting seeds in the same pot?

o
RE: Lettuce in a container question

* Posted by organic49 Edison,N.J. (My Page) on
Sat, Jun 9, 07 at 19:33

5-6 hours of sun is enough. Lettuce doesn't like summer heat.Keep containers moist daily. Starting seeds every week,keeps you in lettuce all the time. Move to shade throughout summer."

Here is a link that might be useful: Lettuce in a container question
sarahlynnwhite
16 years ago
dear darkcloud, i am sorry to say that i can see why your name is dark cloud. i don't think anyone had a problem helping colleen out whether she had asked elsewhere or not. this is is a friendly gardening forum, and it just kinda seems like you are picking on her. your comments may keep her from asking a question or posting an observation in the future and i just don't think that is what this forum represents. sarah

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