Lettuce seed harvesting

Ilikeplants

Anyone harvest their own lettuce seeds? Do you only do ut end of season or do you let one plant go to seed early so you can collect the seeds earlier as you go? I’m thinking of letting one go to seed now to collect and keep it going, some for eating and some for seeds. Does this seem a good idea?

Fairygirl

I did it last year. I just let one plant go to seed later in summer, as I still had plenty of seed left from the original packet.
One flowering stem gives you loads. Used some this year, and plenty left. 

Ilikeplants

Thanks @Fairygirl, the hot weather is starting to make some bolt and I thought it would be easier to dry the flower seeds now rather than in autumn when we get more rainfall and wind.

Fairygirl

The seed needs to be viable while still on the plant, so just wait until it's at that stage, then harvest them 

Ilikeplants

I can let one plant run to seed now and it would have viable seeds earlier. It’s worth an experiment. I collected seeds last autumn but it was so hectic with everything needing doing at the same time. I then dropped half the seed bag somewhere this spring again whilst busy trying to hold 3 or 4 things in one hand sowing. Very calamitous.