First time transplanting lettuce……..

[Rhys]

Charles

I’ve given growing lettuces in modules followed by transplantation a try for the first time this year.

The first set of plants were transplanted about 3 weeks ago and although they appear healthy, they don’t seem to be growing that fast in the soil.

The same seeds sown directly to the soil even earlier have grown well, so it can’t be the temperature-sensitivity of the strain.

Am I selecting out rapid growers in nice compost which don’t like the more nutrient-sparse soil or are there any tricks of the trade I’m missing here?? They’ve been slotted in between rows of carrots and parsnips in the main, so there is no manure to speak of in the ground……..

[charles]

It sounds like your conclusion about the less rich soil is correct, especially when the plants are healthy. However it does take an average ten days for module plants to kick in with strong new growth.

[Rhys]

OK

We’ll see how they go through May and judge at the end of the month then.

Tried growing Radish using Biodynamic calendar and they have done rather well – we’ll be harvesting the first row next week. That will be 8 weeks for a sowing on March 8th.

I also tried sowing seeds in soil blocks put direct into the ground and the quality of germination and plant health 3 weeks later is also very good. It also means you have relatively little thinning out to do, because the spacing between soil blocks is about what you want for radish anyway! I wonder if this is another way of improving soil fertility in year 1 whilst growing a simple crop??

[Author]

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