what final pot size for lettuce

I'm growing lettuce for the first time (cos) and due to the new veg plot already being full I'm growing them in pots. Started off in my plastic greenhouse thingy and they're going well, plan to put them outside at the end of the month. They're around 4-6" tall, nice and green and starting to 'fill out' and are currently in 5" pots. Will they need bigger? If so what final pot size? Do they need feeding and if so with what and when? Any tips welcomed

Sheelagh

 

I'd put them into a bigger pot, just one size bigger for now. They should be outside for sure.......lettuce will take a frost or a snow on them and be fine but they grow best and sweetest in cool weather. They will bolt quickly if you keep coddling them inside in the warmth.

I've never grown them in a pot so I have no idea if they need feed. Outside I always have compost mixed into the bed before seeding so they do have feed a bit but I don't fertilize them.

 

Hi Greenjeans

Thanks, I'll put them outside in a min. Would you reccommend a partially shaded position then?

Sheelagh

 

If the sun is brilliant and really hot I would but otherwise not to worry. (has it been in a greenhouse where it's been getting good sunlight already?) My plants are in the greenhouse so I just lug them out and plop them down to toughen up.

 

Hello Sheelagh, lettuce will do very well in containers. I think your 5" pots will be big enough.
You can also grow them in a bigger container (it doesn't have to be very deep) and just plant them about 6" apart each way

You don't have to feed them but they do like to be well watered. And they like to be fairly cool so I would put them in an area that gets some shade.

I don't know what kind of lettuce you're growing but you might want to try one of the cut and come again varieties.
You can grow it in a container. Just sprinkle the seed lightly and cover lightly. No need to thin out the plants. Just cut some when you want it - it will grow back.

 

Hi Alice

Yes, I too have put some mixed salad type stuff in some pots and its growing nicely. The other lettuce is cos and thanks to advice from yourself and greenjeans I'm going to put the pots in a semi shaded spot, I've plenty of those, it's the full sun I've run out of - what with the veg plot, play house, trampoline etc etc etc. I'm also trying some leaf spinach ? in pots to see how that goes.

Thanks again

Sheelagh :thumb:

 

Leaf spinach will be fine in a container Sheilagh or if you have the space a growbag . Like the lettuce it will be happy in shade and likes water.

 

I'm growing lettuce at the moment too. My intended final pot size is 12''.

I have read somewhere that lettuce shouldn't be exposed to more than 6 hours of direct sunlight on a daily basis...but I think in the current lovely British climate you've got more chance of the pope teaming up with Eminem and having a good old rap.

 

12" sounds huge to me. I grow Tomatoes and Cucumbers for the whole season in that size. But growing veg in containers is not something I know much about

 

I've grown plenty of lettuce in containers. You don't need a 12" pot - that's a waste of space and compost. You can grow tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes and squash in pots that size. Lettuce will be happy in something 4" deep. I would save the big pots for the big guys.