How to Grow Lettuce With CFLs
- 1). Adjust the temperature of the room in which you intend to grow your lettuce. A temperature between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for supporting lettuce growth and to reduce the chance of bolting --- lettuce quickly going to seed when exposed to hot temperatures.
- 2). Fill a well-drained container with rich potting mix.
- 3). Pour lettuce seeds into the palm of your hand. Use your other hand to take a pinch of the seeds and sprinkle them into the prepared container.
- 4). Cover the seeds lightly with potting mix, and water the container thoroughly to moisten the soil.
- 5). Place a CFL light fixture 4 inches above the prepared container. Keeping the light low ensures that the seeds will receive enough heat and light to properly germinate. Continue moving the grow light upward as the seedlings grow into mature plants, maintaining 4 inches of space between the lights and the plants at all growth stages.
- 6). Turn on the CFL and leave it on for 14 to 16 hours each day. Turn off the light for a period of eight to 10 hours each day to give the plants a rest period. Too much light is just as dangerous to the health of lettuce as too little light.
- 7). Thin the seedlings once the second pair of leaves has sprouted on each, leaving 3 to 4 inches of space between the seedlings. This provides the plants with enough room to grow.
- 8). Water the plants daily, maintaining moist --- but never damp or soggy --- soil. Fertilize the lettuce with a balanced fertilizer weekly. Lettuce is known as a "heavy feeder," meaning it grows rapidly and requires plenty of water and fertilizer to keep up with its growth rate.