Gardening Question

[bajiay]

This is the first year that we have ever tried to grow various kinds of lettuce. Have already started it indoors but once it gets about two inches high it starts wilting. It has full sun during the day, watching the water, don't know what I'm doing wrong. We eat a lot of lettuce and this would save me a lot of money if I can figure out how to grow it! Any suggestions from you experts out there?

[Beeman]

possibly too much heat from being in the window? Lettuce is a cool weather crop, I would make an easy cold frame outdoors and grow it there. I honestly don't know your weather and I'm sure mine is warmer but we grow lettuce year round in an outdoor covered bed.

[Thoughthound]

Is it possible that it is "dampening off"?

If the soil is not sterile, it will likely contain bacteria that causes seed starts to wilt and die.

Usually the stem, right beneath the first leaves, turns yellow and becomes very thin.

If it is not dampening off, then I'd have to say not enough water.

[bajiay]

Cool weather crop, gotchya! Too much sun is probably what it is. In Montana, still having 8 degree weather here at night, too cold for outside! Should have researched it before I tried to grow it but didn't think about it. Thanks for your info!

[bajiay]

I used an organic mulch compound from the nursery and all of the other things that we have planted in it are growing beautifully just not the lettuce. Dampening off, didn't know about that. Will have to look at it when I get home. Possibility. What causes that?

[bajiay]

Sorry Thoughthound, I see you put the cause in your reply. Guess, I'm not multitasking very well this morning!

[Beeman]

With 8 degree weather you need a happy medium. If you could build a small cold frame with possibly a heat retention source like biomass(water jugs,concrete blocks) it might help but 8 is cold. There is also a heat tape type stuff you can use under a bed but that's burning electric.