Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Can anyone suggest proven methods for starting lettuces from seed to include:

media used
watering method
natural sunlight or grow lights
recommended temperature for the seed starts

I have been starting seeds for years for my soil garden but I'm looking for a lower cost and easier solution for starting my seedlings out right. There are so many options out there for starting seeds in soil but I don't want to spend a lot of time rinsing the dirt off of the roots when transplanting to the DWC rafts.

I'm using floral foam seed starting cubes. They have a name but it escapes me. My friend got the box with her half. I was starting them indoors, but that made them leggy so I just set them on a tray outside and soak with system water when they start to dry. Probably could just place them into the media beds too.

I sprinkle the seeds into my hydroton media beds, they start good and there is no transplant shock.

I have tried several methods,like slowboat just sprinkle the seeds on the media surface flood to the top then drain,i think this just wets the seeds and help them settle,then as they germinate thin to suit.
In the DWCs,one inch foam cubes,started in a propagator [large plastic bag] when the first germinate these are then in a tray floated on AP water with a little air.
Or fine washed river gravel placed in the pot with the base justing the water,the seeds are placed where the water wicks up to,the just a fine sprinkle of gravel over that,i put a couple then thin as they germinate.In the foam cubes i normally one place one seed but do more cubes than i want,so the cubes that don’t germinate can be discarded.With these i remove the seed and just wash them in a very dilute bleach solution,then use again.
One excellent tip for germinating lettuce seeds,especially us using foam or flora media,is once the seeds are placed in the cubes,they sit for six hours in the warmth,then twenty four hours in the fridge should be 2c,the germination rate is very very good with the seedlings being good and hardy.

First of all I am a noobee so everything I post needs to be viewed with that in mind.

My first crop is lettuce. I used it as a media bed starter. I use the puffed clay as media. I have a T5 lamp and my small system is in my house by my dinning table. As a seed starter I took common cotton fiber balls that I pulled out of my med cabinet, tore it into small pieces, put a couple seeds in each little bundle, and dipped each cotton wad into the fish tank and then stuck them in the media bed just out of sight. Two days later I have sprouts.

I am interested in views about this.
thanks.

Hi

1 Media... Any media that you can transplant to final growing system without transplant shock.

2 Watering Method......I would think that PH at this stage plays a major factor

3 Sunlight/Grow lights ....... Trade off, Cost/control Geographical location/ season

4 Temperature... (I don’t know) but many seeds benefit from temperature variation prior to gemination. Also geographical location/season

My ten cents worth. For more than family use, indoors.
Non season dependent and all variables under your control.
First stage in a production line. Standardize.
Titus

Thanks Titus. I think standard processes are my main goal here. I think I'm going to start some seeds in the greenhouse this weekend using a new method. I'll detail the method once I try it and if it doesn't work very well then I'll still document it for others. wish me luck!