Seed Saving — Lettuce
Save seeds from open-pollinated lettuce varieties. Lettuce is largely self-pollinating and one of the easiest crops for seed saving. Allow selected plants to bolt, flower, and set seed over 2-3 months.
Version History
Version 1.0 Current
Effective: 2026-03-27Initial version
Procedure Details
No significant hazards. Wear gloves if handling large amounts of dry seed heads to avoid skin irritation from fine plant hairs.
Requirements:
- Open-pollinated (not F1 hybrid) lettuce variety
- The plant must be allowed to bolt and flower — do not harvest leaves from seed-saving plants
- Paper bags for seed head collection
- Fine mesh sieve
- Seed envelopes and labels
Timeline: 2-3 months from bolting to seed harvest. Best started in spring or early summer.
Procedure Steps (Version 1.0)
Select 2-3 of your best lettuce plants that are true to type — the healthiest, most vigorous plants with the characteristics you want to preserve. Mark them clearly.
Stop harvesting leaves from selected plants. Allow them to bolt (send up a flower stalk). This is normal — most lettuce varieties bolt in warm weather.
The plant will produce small yellow flowers over several weeks. Each flower produces a tiny seed head (like a miniature dandelion puff).
Watch for seed heads to develop — they appear as small white fluffy tufts at the top of the plant. Seeds are mature when they are dark (brown or black) and the fluff is fully expanded.
Harvest seed heads daily or every few days as they mature — they shatter easily and seeds will blow away. Place a paper bag over the seed head and shake or snap it off into the bag.
Alternatively, cut the entire stalk when about half the seed heads have opened and hang upside down in a paper bag in a dry, well-ventilated area. Seeds will fall into the bag as they mature.
Once all seeds are collected, rub the seed heads between your hands over a bowl to separate seeds from chaff.
Use a fine sieve or gentle blowing to separate clean seeds from the fluffy pappus and plant debris.
Spread clean seeds on a plate in a dry, well-ventilated area for 3-5 days to ensure they are fully dry.
Store in labelled envelopes in a cool, dry, dark place. Record the variety, date saved, source plant, and any notes on performance.
Lettuce seeds remain viable for 3-5 years when stored properly. Test germination before each season using the germination testing method.