Comments on: Leggy Seedlings http://garden.katzke.net/2009/02/leggy-seedlings/ A Carpetbagging Yankee Tries To Grow Things in South Central Texas Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:40:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Karl’s Garden Blog » Progress Update http://garden.katzke.net/2009/02/leggy-seedlings/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Karl’s Garden Blog » Progress Update Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:59:58 +0000 http://garden.katzke.net/?p=80#comment-34 [...] pots so that I have more space in the seed trays for things that need to be seed. Thanks to a comment from Kathy G, I’ve started putting the entire seed trays outside in a place that gets partial sun. Talk [...] [...] pots so that I have more space in the seed trays for things that need to be seed. Thanks to a comment from Kathy G, I’ve started putting the entire seed trays outside in a place that gets partial sun. Talk [...]

]]> By: karlkatzke http://garden.katzke.net/2009/02/leggy-seedlings/comment-page-1/#comment-13 karlkatzke Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:28:57 +0000 http://garden.katzke.net/?p=80#comment-13 Kathy - No, that makes a ton of sense. I was wondering why I was having such problems! I guess I'm going to start putting my seedlings outside during the day here. I'll just need to protect them from the wind and birds. It's above 65 most days right now, so I can just bring them back in at night. Sure hope I can save some of these! I grew basil and other herbs on the same bright sunny windowsills for years before trying to grow my own seedlings, which I guess is why it didn't occur to me that I might have some problems when everything started getting "omg" tall! Kathy – No, that makes a ton of sense. I was wondering why I was having such problems!

I guess I’m going to start putting my seedlings outside during the day here. I’ll just need to protect them from the wind and birds. It’s above 65 most days right now, so I can just bring them back in at night.

Sure hope I can save some of these! I grew basil and other herbs on the same bright sunny windowsills for years before trying to grow my own seedlings, which I guess is why it didn’t occur to me that I might have some problems when everything started getting “omg” tall!

]]> By: KathyG http://garden.katzke.net/2009/02/leggy-seedlings/comment-page-1/#comment-11 KathyG Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:45:21 +0000 http://garden.katzke.net/?p=80#comment-11 I don't think bad soil is the problem here -- but lack of light. You can start seeds on a windowsill, but then the seedlings need much more light. Even though a sunny windowsill looks bright to our human eyes, plants need the equivalent of actual, outdoor sunshine in order to not grow leggy. The legginess is the result of your seedlings reaching desperately for more light. No matter what kind of fancy soil you use (or peat pellets) your seedling will look like this unless you give them more light! Seed starting is best with at least 2 fluo tubes, which you can put within a few inches of your soil surface, then raise gradually as they grow. You can use cheap shop-light fixtures from the hardward store. Not attractive in your fancy, schmancy living room (smile), but tough and inexpensive. If you have your seed starting area near a window, you can use regular fluo tubes (one cool white, one warm white works well) instead of the more expensive full-spectrum or 'grow-light' tubes. Plants need light in the warm end of the spectrum as well as cool (which is what you get from regular fluos), and the daylight coming in through your windows can provide this. Hope this is helpful Kathy G in the Oregon desert I don’t think bad soil is the problem here — but lack of light. You can start seeds on a windowsill, but then the seedlings need much more light. Even though a sunny windowsill looks bright to our human eyes, plants need the equivalent of actual, outdoor sunshine in order to not grow leggy. The legginess is the result of your seedlings reaching desperately for more light. No matter what kind of fancy soil you use (or peat pellets) your seedling will look like this unless you give them more light!

Seed starting is best with at least 2 fluo tubes, which you can put within a few inches of your soil surface, then raise gradually as they grow. You can use cheap shop-light fixtures from the hardward store. Not attractive in your fancy, schmancy living room (smile), but tough and inexpensive. If you have your seed starting area near a window, you can use regular fluo tubes (one cool white, one warm white works well) instead of the more expensive full-spectrum or ‘grow-light’ tubes.

Plants need light in the warm end of the spectrum as well as cool (which is what you get from regular fluos), and the daylight coming in through your windows can provide this.

Hope this is helpful
Kathy G in the Oregon desert

]]> By: Karl’s Garden Blog » The Great Sprout-Off http://garden.katzke.net/2009/02/leggy-seedlings/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Karl’s Garden Blog » The Great Sprout-Off Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:21:00 +0000 http://garden.katzke.net/?p=80#comment-5 [...] Leggy Seedlings [...] [...] Leggy Seedlings [...]

]]>