How to sow salad seeds in modules

How to sow salad seeds in modules

Some types of lettuce are best started off in modules. Get started on your own tasty crop with our easy guide.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is not at its best in January

Plant is not at its best in February

Plant is not at its best in March

Plant is not at its best in April

Plant is at its best in May

Plant is at its best in June

Plant is at its best in July

Plant is at its best in August

Plant is at its best in September

Plant is at its best in October

Plant is not at its best in November

Plant is not at its best in December

To do
To do

Do not To do in January

Do not To do in February

Do To do in March

Do To do in April

Do To do in May

Do To do in June

Do To do in July

Do To do in August

Do not To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

Tall lettuces such as ‘Bionda’ or hearting lettuces like ‘Webb’s Wonderful’ are best started off in seed modules – they will grow into neat, easy-to-handle plug plants that you can plant out in the garden at a later date.

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Find out how to grow salad leaves in a container.

Here’s how to start off salad seeds in modules.

Tall lettuces such as 'Bionda' or hearting lettuces like 'Webb's Wonderful' are best started off in seed modules.

You Will Need

  • Lettuce seeds
  • Seed trays or modules
  • Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
  • Vermiculite
  • Clear plastic bag
  • 7.5cm plastic pots
  • Pencil or dibber

Step 1

Sowing lettuce seed
Sowing lettuce seed

Fill modules generously with seed compost and level off so they’re filled to the brim, then sow one or two seeds in each – you can always pinch out surplus seedlings later.


Step 2

Sitting the seed tray in water
Sitting the seed tray in water

Sprinkle vermiculite or sieved compost to cover the seeds, then sit the tray in an inch of water to soak till the surface feels damp. Remove the tray from the water. Cover with a clear plastic lid or clear plastic bag. Put in a warm place to germinate.


Step 3

Potting on lettuce seedlings
Potting on lettuce seedlings

Pot on seedlings once the second pair of leaves (or ‘true’ leaves) appear. Ease each seedling out with a dibber or pencil, handling by the leaves to avoid breaking the stems. Pot each one into a 7.5cm pot of multi-purpose compost.


Step 4

Lettuce seedlings in pots
Lettuce seedlings in pots
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Protect young plants from spring frosts if necessary, by placing in a greenhouse or porch until the soil has warmed up. Grow on young plants for a few weeks, until they have developed a good root system and are ready to plant out in the garden.

Planting baby leaf mixes

Baby leaf mixes and herbs such as parsley are best sown in seed trays, where they can be sown more densely. They can be planted out later in clumps, rather than as individual plants.

Seedlings