A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum leggy seedlings

Hello, my kids & I planted seeds in peat pots a few weeks back & while the tomatoes seem to be doing very well, all of the other seedlings are very leggy, some have even broken from the weight of the leaves on the spindly stems. I have them elevated under fluorescent lights...is there any way to salvage the leggy seedlings? We have broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage & brussels sprouts. I would appreciate any help!

Hi and welcome Renny..

You might be able to salvage some if they haven't gotten to leggy...the lack of strong light causes them to grow so fast that they weaken, you have to have a light breeze to strengthen their base...you can fan them several times a day with a book or magazine(I know it sounds strange but it works)...just fan the book over them back and forth(easy though)...to help them sway a little.

They grow to fast trying to reach for light...keep your lights a few inches above them to slow them down.

Hopefully some can be saved.

Please re-read Renny...I made a change..I just realized you have 'florescent lighting'.

Thanks, Tamara, I have them a few inches below the lights on a growing shelf, but I will try the fanning! I will be re-potting the tomatoes maybe tomorrow & I will be burying the stems, but I have no idea how to handle the other plants, if I bury their stems, will they just rot?

Welcome, Renny. The broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage & brussels sprouts should not be planted deeper. You are right, stem rot probably would take them. But those are cool weather crops and can survive a light frost or several. Is there a place ready for them out in your garden? They may be ready for some sunshine. Harden them off by offering them some sun each day and plant out soon. Either in pots until the garden plots are ready or into the ground.

Tina,
I've never started seeds & these plants just look too wimpy to survive outside right now, but maybe not? It looks as if it may storm today here, so I will use the fan, then work on setting them out soon. The seedlings are right at 3 weeks old, I said 'several' in my original post, it seems like they've been in my kitchen forever, but I just went back on the calender!! Thanks.