Chilterns lettuce seed giveaway.

I have several lettuce seed mixture s etc curled oak leaf in a.mixed packet some are coss, a crunchy lettuce, a mixture of red types ,rocket , spicy that I know I won't use.

I sowed some This year and got a good mix .......
And as they were growing a attractive addition to my veg plot..


These are all from chiltern seeds I shall have enough to last me a few years as I collected my own seed from my plants.

Any takers?

 

I think there's a seed swap thread on this forum @Purple Streaks , but the problem with many lettuce is that the seed doesn't stay viable for long periods of time, unlike things like tomatoes.
Another forum member told me that some years ago when I was having problems with germination. New seed bought, and all was fine.
I rarely collect seed as I mostly use the cut and come again technique, and don't usually let any lettuce get to seed stage unless I have an extra one or two I can leave

 

Hi , I maybe should of mentioned ,it is all this years seed and unopened .
But Im sorry I do disagree with you , I have never been dissapointed with Chilterns seed. This year the mix I had sown was bought 2 yrs ago and I have no complaints. Though before I sow into the tray I seperate some tissue down to a single layer lay it on top of the tray of compost sprinkle lettuce seed and spray keep damp but not wet. Even this time of year in a few days the seed is sprouting. I then sprinkle vermiculite or compost thinly in a few weeks I have some lettuce .

I grow lettuce all year round it is so much tastier than even the farm shops, and to have been asked where do i buy my lettuce ....... well thats the bonus !!!!!

As regards saving my own seed its a case of being hooked its an obsession I find it very intresting and rewarding and something I look forward to as a member of several plant societies this time of year , we collect as much seed as we can sending it off for the seed swap. its chance to try a large number of plants Id not heard off. Im in the Iris society, Hardy Plant society , Cottage garden society and one for hostas.
Its being part of something which intrests me that keeps me going and i would find it very boring not to be part of these days .

not trying to be funny its just that i felt an explanation was required , I hope I have not offended

 

Fairy Girl Would you allow me to send a pkt of the seed to try,? try it whenever,,,,, on rthe seed or sowing at your usual time. I would be intrested to then see what the result ?
ie Lots of Lettuce or none at all l

 

Interesting, I have found similar to @fairygirl more and more lettuce needs to be bought new each year. Franchii seeds seem an exception but they don't always offer the varieties I want.
Maybe I should try Chiltern seeds.

 

I've found that lettuce has to be fresh each year, once opened that packet has to be used within that season. If it's hermetically sealed it may be ok but I prefer to buy fresh each new season.

 

Chiltern seed may be the exeption. As I say I've never had a problem ,they are not foil seed either

 

I am glad you get good viability, I like Chiltern Seeds they're a good seed supplier. Lettuce and Parsnips are the 2 vegetable seeds I buy fresh every year, it's just personal experience through trial and error.

 

Very kind of you @Purple Streaks but I've just bought my new seed for next year!
It was you who told me about the viability @Allotment Boy and I found the new seed I got was excellent, so I've been aware of that since then. I'm not sure if I've ever used Chilterns for lettuce, although I use them for many other seeds, but I don't use huge amounts of it.
Not worth growing it for this time of year here - we need hot food !

 

As @Scroggin says parsnips are well known for needing to be fresh seed. Another marginal one is French beans, if you are lucky you get two seasons from a pack but after that, the viability drops right off, conversely Runner beans stay viable for years.
When I did the RHS course we covered a bit of this and I found a long list on t'internet , showing the viability of a huge range of things. Unfortunately I can't remember where I found it now. The odd thing is it doesn't seem to have much to do with the seed size. As many of you will know, poppies remain viable in the ground for years, and come up when the soil is disturbed through cultivation, animal activity or an old tree falling down. I find it all very interesting.

 

i just bought some more
do you find they take frost fine? how do you grow them over winter? i am new to lettuce, i have some good looking oak leaf ones right now that have maybe 5 big leaves each

the seeds were 2 years old and germinated reasonably well in the warm