Lettuce at cotyledon stage

Csross · March 20, 2016

I started some lettuce, chard, and bok choi seeds indoors about 10 days ago, and they're at the cotyledon stage now, 3/4" tall. I've read online that they should be transplanted out after their 2nd set of true leaves, but the weather should be ok to put them out now. If I wait longer, then I also have to harden them off. My guess is that they're too delicate now to hold by the 'leaves' and tease the roots apart from the potting mix, right? Can I just plant them out now if I keep the soil block intact?
Thanks! - Chris

PhilaGardener · March 20, 2016

They will be fine until later this week, when our East Coast weather will warm up again. Just try to give them plenty of light, and then harden off for a few days before you plant into the garden.

RayR · March 20, 2016

They are at the cotyledon stage now, and you want put them outside? What are your temps now and your expected temps from here on? Lettuce is a cool season crop and a more mature plant can handle a frost but a seedling without a well developed root system will die. Best temperature for growth is 60-65°F. A seedling or even a mature plant won't grow very fast or at all if the temperatures are too cool.
Patience, Wait until they get their 2nd set of true leaves before you mess with them.
Lettuce hardens off very easily, don't worry about that.

Csross · March 21, 2016

For the next 10 days, we're expecting highs between 55-70F and lows 37-50F. I've got some lettuce that I direct seeding, and they're smaller but seem to be doing fine. Our last frost date is May 1, so I know I'm early, but I'd like to get these planted out and start tomato seeds in the same tray, so that's my motivation.

I watched NCTomatoMan's video on dense sowing of seeds, so that's what I was planning to do - ★★★★★ them out and transplant after 2 sets of leaves, but the weather seems nice now, and I rather have them outside ASAP.

Thanks for the advice!

KarenO · March 21, 2016

They should be fine. They will look pretty sorry at first, often wilting. keep them moist and they will perk up. Best to transplant in evening or on a cloudy day to give them a chance to adjust before they are in any heat or direct sun. To transplant that small, I would have just thinly direct sowed them in a short row and then transplant from there. Right out in the garden. That's what I find works the best for lots of cool season things. Sow thinly in a small "nursery" space in the garden and then ★★★★★ them out individually and transplant them into a row at the correct spacing once they are big enough. Works very well with no need to use scarce indoor space for a hardy crop like lettuce and avoids any need to worry about hardening off delicate seedlings because they are used to being outside already. Eliminates the need for thinning and makes it easy to space them properly. Works for many things, broccoli and other cole crops, chard, beets, head lettuces etc.
KarenO

Haha! The program auto edited my choice of gardening word for uprooting tiny seedlings for transplant.

March 20, 2016	#1
Csross Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 28	Lettuce at cotyledon stage I started some lettuce, chard, and bok choi seeds indoors about 10 days ago, and they're at the cotyledon stage now, 3/4" tall. I've read online that they should be transplanted out after their 2nd set of true leaves, but the weather should be ok to put them out now. If I wait longer, then I also have to harden them off. My guess is that they're too delicate now to hold by the 'leaves' and tease the roots apart from the potting mix, right? Can I just plant them out now if I keep the soil block intact? Thanks! - Chris

March 21, 2016	#5
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,923	They should be fine. They will look pretty sorry at first, often wilting. keep them moist and they will perk up. Best to transplant in evening or on a cloudy day to give them a chance to adjust before they are in any heat or direct sun. To transplant that small, I would have just thinly direct sowed them in a short row and then transplant from there. Right out in the garden. That's what I find works the best for lots of cool season things. Sow thinly in a small "nursery" space in the garden and then ★★★★★ them out individually and transplant them into a row at the correct spacing once they are big enough. Works very well with no need to use scarce indoor space for a hardy crop like lettuce and avoids any need to worry about hardening off delicate seedlings because they are used to being outside already. Eliminates the need for thinning and makes it easy to space them properly. Works for many things, broccoli and other cole crops, chard, beets, head lettuces etc. KarenO Haha! The program auto edited my choice of gardening word for uprooting tiny seedlings for transplant. Last edited by KarenO; March 21, 2016 at 02:37 PM.

March 20, 2016	#2
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	They will be fine until later this week, when our East Coast weather will warm up again. Just try to give them plenty of light, and then harden off for a few days before you plant into the garden.

March 20, 2016	#3
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	They are at the cotyledon stage now, and you want put them outside? What are your temps now and your expected temps from here on? Lettuce is a cool season crop and a more mature plant can handle a frost but a seedling without a well developed root system will die. Best temperature for growth is 60-65°F. A seedling or even a mature plant won't grow very fast or at all if the temperatures are too cool. Patience, Wait until they get their 2nd set of true leaves before you mess with them. Lettuce hardens off very easily, don't worry about that.