[Coldfeet]

What about spinach and fennel?   Bit crushed that what I thought were healthy seedlings appear to be 'leggy' and should be binned.   What do normal 'unleggy' seedlings look like?   How do I know, and what prevents them being leggy.   So much to learn........

[al78]

What about spinach and fennel?   Bit crushed that what I thought were healthy seedlings appear to be 'leggy' and should be binned.   What do normal 'unleggy' seedlings look like?   How do I know, and what prevents them being leggy.   So much to learn........

Unleggy seedlings are short and sturdy, leggy seedlings are long and spindly and flop about.

I believe legginess is caused by insufficient light and/or too much warmth, which causes them to grow fast to find a light source becoming drawn out in the process. It tends to happen when growing seedlings on windowsills as they are only lit from one side, as opposed to if they were outside when they would receive light from all angles. It also tends to happen when sowing seeds very early when the days are short; some people use artificial lighting to provide the necessary light levels required to prevent legginess.

[DD.]

some people use artificial lighting to provide the necessary light levels required to prevent legginess.

Most people use a cheap bit of aluminium foil placed behind the plants to reflect light back. This almost doubles the light level.

I think we've occasionally mentioned it!

[ally]

And brassicas!

Thats good to know .... went in the GH yesterday to find that my cauliflowers have shot up and all floppy!  So done an emergency re pot up to the seed leaves .... not been in there this morning to see if they are OK.

My All round year round lettuce needs transplanting but forgot DD's process and have used all of my seed trays .... the second true leaves are opening so will pop them straight out! 

[DD.]

Get those brassicas outside soon. They don't want the temperatures the greenhouses are now getting up to!

[ally]

Get those brassicas outside soon. They don't want the temperatures the greenhouses are now getting up to!

Oh I thought they would need to be bigger! consider the advice taken and they're on their way outside, once the wind has calm down and I have brought some slug defences!!!

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

They can stay in pots in a sheltered place, they just dont need to be hot. Hardy things, they are