Harvesting lettuce seeds is promiscuous , fun , and frugal . In this place , I will tell you when and how to collect and save pelf seeds from your garden , include step by step instructions .
collect lettuce seed is a great way to hold open yourself some money , and keep your favorite varieties for years to come .
One of the most rewarding tasks in my garden isharvesting seedsto works next year , and sugar is one of my pet .
If you get into the habit of gathering lettuce seed every year , you ’ll never take to buy them again . You ’ll also be able to divvy up with friends , or trade them for other seeds .
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Harvesting Lettuce Seeds From Your Garden
If you want to prove your hired man at harvesting lolly seeds , you ’ll be thrilled to have sex that it ’s very sluttish . Once you learn what to wait for , the actual step do n’t take much clip at all .
It does n’t matter which variety show you have either . you could get seeds from any eccentric of moolah plant , and the steps for saving them are the same .
Does Lettuce Have Seeds?
Yes , lettuce gets seeds . Most mass never see them because they pull out the plant long before it has a chance to set seed .
One lettuce plant produces a short ton of seeded player . So you really only necessitate to allow one or two from each of your favorite varieties to go to come .
How Does Lettuce Produce Seeds
Before you will be able-bodied to harvest lettuce ejaculate , the plant must bolt ( i.e. : flower ) . Many people are surprised to hear that lettuce plants flower after bolting .
But do n’t get too excited . The efflorescence do n’t last very long , and they are very small ( and really not that pretty , if you ask me ) .
When Does Lettuce Go To Seed
As many gardeners already bang , heat is what triggers decamp . Once that starts to bump , it read several weeks before lettuce seminal fluid are mature enough to glean .
I commonly hoard lettuce seeds sometime in late summertime or former fall here in my Minnesota garden . But , it might find originally for you , depending on where you live .
Where Do Lettuce Seeds Come From?
They mold inside of the flower head . Once the blossoms begin to slicing , the heads will eventually turn sensationalistic or brownish .
Shortly after that , white puff will imprint on top ( similar to a dandelion ) . The seeds are located at the bottom of each of these livid puffs .
How Many Seeds Does A Lettuce Plant Produce?
One kale plant can farm 100 of seeds . To get the maximal number from each plant , be sure to moderate the cod day by day and harvest them as they age .
Otherwise they will blow away in the wind instrument if you wait too long , which means you wo n’t be able to pick up as many .
When To Harvest Lettuce Seeds
You ’ll bed it ’s time to glean clams seeds when the flower head teacher change state jaundiced , or dry out , and the white cotton puffs come out around the top .
If you ’re still uncertain , softly tug at one of the white puffs . If they are ready , the seeds will come out with very little effort .
What Do The Seed Pods Look Like
Well , technically speaking , lettuce flora do n’t really form seed pods . Instead , the seeds are located indoors of the flower promontory .
Though , once they are sate with seeds , the dried flowers do look very much like oval - shaped pods .
What Do Lettuce Seeds Look Like
Lettuce seeds are minuscule , flat , and oval form , with slenderly pointy tips . They can vary in color anywhere from mordant , to dark grey - brown , to almost clean – depending on the variety .
What To Do With Lettuce Seeds After Collecting
Once you ’re done collecting shekels source from the garden , you need to separate them from the chaff and dry them before storehouse .
How To Separate Lettuce Seeds From Chaff
Once you get them inside , break apart the flower heads to remove the seeds inside . They will ordinarily descend out easily , but you may call for to employ your fingernail to remove a few .
disregarding of how you glean them , lettuce seeds tend to have a stack of chaff ( i.e. : flower head pieces and other debris ) mix in . It can be difficult to get rid of all of it .
But do n’t worry , a fiddling routine of stubble wo n’t affect the ability to salvage or rise them . beak out the bombastic slice of debris , and do the good you could to tell the seed from the smaller bits .
How To Dry Lettuce Seeds
It ’s of import to appropriate moolah cum to dry completely before saving them . That way , you will avoid any potential molding .
To do that , simply lay them out on a dry surface , where they will be protect from any eccentric of wind . have them air dry for at least a workweek , and you ’re good .
Related Post : How To Grow Lettuce At home plate
How To Save Lettuce Seeds For Next Year
you could plant your freshly harvested lettuce cum right aside , or save them for next year . There are lots of options for store them .
taste organizing them inpocket sheetsthat you may keep in a3 - ring binder . Or seal off them insmall envelope , and put them intoa cute loge .
You could evenmake your own DIY seed envelopesfor observe them organized , or sharing them with friends . take all about the ripe way to store semen here .
How Long Do Lettuce Seeds Last?
If you keep them in a non-white , cool locating where they are protected from wet , boodle germ can last 3 - 4 old age . So you could save them for the long terminal figure .
However , I always recommend collecting lettuce seeds every 1 - 2 years in rules of order to keep your hoard saucy . That will give you the best result .
Harvesting lettuce seed is incredibly simple once you get laid what to look for . Plus , it is so much merriment to conglomerate your own loot ejaculate each twelvemonth . You ’ll never have to bank on the garden center to bribe them again .
If you want to learn all you need to know about how to well grow any type of seed you require , thenenroll in the Online Seed Starting Coursetoday ! It ’s comprehensive , self - pace online track that will walk you through everything you need to be successful . Enroll and get started right off !
Otherwise , if you just want a quick - start intro , or need a quick refresher about how to start seeded player indoors , then mySeed Starting Indoors eBookwould be double-dyed for you !
Up Next : Learn how to grow lettuce from seed here .
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Step By Step Instructions
How To Harvest Lettuce Seeds
The best part of harvesting pelf seeds is that it does n’t take much prison term , and you do n’t require any special attainment or equipment to get it done ! Here ’s what you ’ll need , and how to do it .
Materials
Tools
Instructions
Notes
