Lettuce seeds

[Mike]

I have a red leaf (prize head) lettuce and wanted to know in order to obtain viable seeds do I need 2 plants? In other words are lettuce plants self germinating?

[Steve]

I think you meant self-pollonating, and most lettuce are. Is this plant a hybrid? Was it the only lettuce you or your neighbors grew? (Lettuce crosses very easily). Was this the plant that bolted last?

[Gary Woods]

They're self-fertile, so you can get good seed from 1 plant.

Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G

[Mike]

Yep, I meant to say self pollinating.

No the lettuce isn't a hybrid, it was grown from seed planted directly from a retail seed packet.

The plant was saved to obtain seeds because it showed the most robust growth. I don't have all my lettuce growing in the same spot, this particular Red leaf and a Butter head were finished first because they grew in another area with more sunlight.

I'am still harvesting lettuce to eat in the somewhat shaded area. Which is the only area I can plant in the ground, and is adjacent to my neighbor's

2-story house, on top of that the idiot likes to plant palm trees everywhere blocking out more winter sunlight.

So, are you telling me these 2 different species of lettuce can cross pollinate? I had 2 of each in different pots but since you told me, I now have 1 of each that are sitting about 20 feet apart.

[Steve]

Yes, unfortunately lettuce crosses very easily. The forum at SeedSavers can offer some help with protecting and saving your seeds, so that your results will fulfill your wishes.

[Mike]

[Mike]

Thanks I'll give it a look, and in the mean time put as much distance between the 2 species as possible : )

[Gary Woods]

A couple of thoughts: Suzanne Ashworth's "Seed to Seed*," which many of us regard as Holy Writ, says all the florets in a head open at once and essentially self-pollinate and shortly after close and never re-open. She says side by side plants may cross as much as 5% if the flowers are open at the same time and insects are active. I know the lady at the Seed Savers Exchange farm doesn't worry much about the varieties in the greenhouse there crossing. I haven't seen any crossing, but I only have a few varieties and keep them 20 or 30 feet apart, along with my usual lackadaisical planting methods, which make flowering time well spaced out...

*If you're going to do much seed saving, get yourself a copy.

Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G

[Steve]

The minimum proposed distance of isolation between lettuce is 100 meters according to the F.A.O..