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Geoff Hodge Web Editor Peterborough

I've been a horticultural journalist for 19 years, a gardener for longer than I want to think about and a veg grower for 25 years.

  • Date Joined: 21 Nov 2006

Let there be light - and lettuce!

Posted by Geoff Hodge on 26 Mar 2007 at 09:32 AM

I mentioned on Friday that the seedlings in the conservatory weren't getting enough light and that I'd installed a growlight. Well, to help things along even more I also made a 'light box' - a light-reflecting seedling box. Sounds fancy, doesn't it? Actually, it's just a three-sided, topless box lined with silver foil! The foil reflects the light at the back and bottom of the seedlings, so they get light from all sides and don't tend to become too stretched. Now, where's my Blue Peter badge?!

I also sowed my three trial cos lettuces, following the method used by the Trials Department at Wisley - using a dibber to sow three seeds in each cell of a P40 cell tray filled with a peat-reduced compost; although I only used 30 cells, 10 of each cultivar. The tray was then put in the conservatory, along with all my other seeds, to germinate.

If you fancy having a go at the trial at home you can find out all about it by clicking here.

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