Lettuce is something we eat a lot of and something that I have not been particularly good at growing in the past. I've had a couple of good years, I can grow it but it gets eaten by slugs and snails and I tend to see very little in the way of harvest.
No Lettuce at all grown in 2019 as a result of the leg injury, and in 2020 until the winter months, and none grown in 2023 because of the treatment for cancer, but in 2026 I intend to try growing hydroponically in my second allotment greenhouse and as cut and come again at home.
I'm going to blitz the slug and snail population over the late Winter months and hopefully have some success.
Lettuce Seeds when kept in ideal conditions last between 3 - 6 years. Most companies only allow 2 - 3 years between the saved on and the sow by dates on the back of their packs.
Yes there will be a reduction in germination rate as the seeds get older but you can always chit 10 on damp kitchen towel to check out the current germination rate %, especially as they are supplied in 100's, and 1,000's per pack.
A Great video by Charles Dowding
I have made the decision to use anything with a sow by 2020 date in pots as cut and come again at home.
Review Of Seed Stocks with Sow By 2024
Chatsworth (Cos) - 1250 Seeds - £2.40 - Mr Fothergill's - Sow By 2024
Vailan (Winter Gem) - 250 Seeds - £2.55 - Mr Fothergill's - Sow By 2024
Rod Smith Heritage Veg Lettuce Speckled Trout - 150 Seeds - Cost £2.50 - Dobies - packed year ending 2021
Rod Smith Heritage Veg Lettuce Bronze Beauty - 150 Seeds - Cost £2.50 - Dobies - packed year ending 2021
Review Of Seed Stocks with Sow By 2025
Little Gem (Cos) - 900 Seeds - £1.75 - Suttons - Sow By 2025
Gustav's Salad - 1000 seeds - £2.15 - Mr Fothergill's - Sow By 2025
Pasatiempo (Little Gem) - 500 Seeds - £2.15 - D.T.Brown - Sow By 12/2025
Crisp Mint - 350 Seeds - Trial Free - Mr Fothergills - Sow by Dec 2025
Mustard Leaves (Autumn Sowing) - 500 Seeds - £2.49 - Dobies - Sow By 2025
Review Of Seed Stocks with Sow By 2026
Little Gem (Pasatiempo) - 500 Seeds - £2.00^ - Johnsons - Sow By 2026
^Bought in 50% off wilko seed sale
Review Of Seed Stocks with saved by date 2027
Chicory Brussels Witloof - 50 Seeds - 75p - More Veg
Endive Cornet De Bordeaux - 40 Seeds - 60p - More Veg
Komatsuna Comred F1 - 40 Seeds - £1.00 - More Veg
Leaf Beets Rhubarb Red - 50 Seeds - 75p - More Veg
Mitsuba Mashimori - 50 Seeds - 75p - More Veg
Minutina Erba Stellla - 100 Seeds - £1.15 - More Veg
Mustard Leaf Green In Snow - 50 Seeds - 75p - More Veg
Winter Purslane Claytonia Perfoliate - 100 Seeds - 76p - More Veg
Alphabetical Listing
Sowing Harvest
Amaze Mar - Jul May - Oct Sow Under Cloche from January
Cos Mar - Jul May - Oct
Crisp Mint Mar - Jul May - Oct
Elyburg Mar - Jul Jun - Oct
Gaustav's Salad Mar - Jul May - Oct
Little Gem Mar - Jul May - Oct Mr Fothergill's
Little Gem Mar - Jul May - Sep Thompson & Morgan
Maureen Mar - Jul Jun - Oct
Pasatiempo Mar - Aug May - Oct
Rocket Mar - Sep May - Oct
Sweetheart Mar - Jul May - Oct
Sweetheart Mar - Jul May - Oct
Tantan Mar - Jul May - Oct
Tom Thumb Mar - Jul May - Oct
Valmaine Mar - Jul Jun - Sep
Winter Density Sept- Jan Jan - May Greenhouse / Coldframe
Winter Gem Aug - April Mar - Jul Outdoors
