Kitchen Garden Forum

Not sure if this is the right forum...
My early lettuce, (Little Gem) sown in various pots and troughs, are now about 3in high and look healthy, but appear to be much darker green than normal. The leaves also seem "coarser". Could this be down to the soil composition - too acid/alkaline? Add Lime?
It's a mixture of old Growbag and compost heap stuff, reinforced with Growmore and BF & B. Advice very welcome, thank you.

Im just having to download some new software to produce a couple of photos for you of my Little Gem.

It's only the third year I have grown Little Gem, first year they didn't look look Little Gem. More like floppy lettuce. Last year they were good and this year looks similar.

Two photos to follow, of of Little Gem in tiny pots and one of Little Gem transplanted direct when they were only potting-on size.

My broadband is very slow so downloads take ages but I will give you a couple of photos, sorry, I don't have enough experience to comment of dark leaves.

John : Probably just been grown a little cooler, how do they compare with Richard's?
Richard : they look good.

Here's some of mine. Hope pic isn't too big!

I have always found that lettuce grown too cool is coarser than that which is grown fast and warm. Even our slightly heated greenhouse produces tough lettuce early in spring and they only improve when it gets warmer.

Monika wrote:I have always found that lettuce grown too cool is coarser than that which is grown fast and warm.

Ahh, I didn't know.

My Little Gem were raised under polythene covers and some shoved out into the ground because I had far too many, I don't get to eat all those I have sown. I already have a few winter grown called Arctic King so the 20 plus Little Gem will go to neighbours and keep the slugs busy.

The ones i have under my glass cloches, are just starting to get some nice centers to them, so very pleased.