Like many others this year I have decided to attempt starting a veggy plot. So far I have planted seeds for lettuce and carrots outside and seeds for broccoli inside. I have brought on the broccoli in a propagateor, removing the cover when the plants were about 1" high. When they got to 2" I planted them into a seed tray in a mixture of soil and compost. On the packet it says plant them on when they are ready but at what stage are they ready?. The lettuce are now about 1" high but when do I thin them out to the final growing position?. I have found that books don't seem to cover this aspect of growing for novices. Any tips please?
I hope that, with help, I can produce a fair quantity of veg.
Tony

The best way i can answer your question is to transplant the lettuce and Broc when they start to get "bushy" (about 3 inch high & about 2 inch across). That way they have a greater chance of surviving, they will have a little more soil clinging to the roots, they can be planted a little deeper than younger smaller plants, and are more robust against the wind bashing them before they are established.

When you transplant (especially the lettuce) try to do it in the evening, provide a bit of shade from the mid day sun until they have established (for about a week) and give plenty of water each day for the first week. Lettuce are best when grown fast, so do try to water regularly as they develop.

The birds like to eat young lettuce plants so you may want to put some netting around them. Salt on the soil along the rows and beer cans (with a bit inside) can help against the slugs.

Thanks Janus, a little info goes a long way, brilliant.
veggycooper

You might want to avoid putting salt on your soil, it might kill the slugs but it's not going to do your soil any good and might end up killing the plants you're trying to protect