[Novice but totally hooked]

This year I'm determined to be organised and get seedlings going early.  I've now got sweet pea seedlings coming up very nicely in pots on a window sill.  My question is what do I do now?

Obviously I can't put them out yet but I don't want them to get tall and spindley, I want them to 'fill out' and become sturdy so that I can start to harden them off in a few weeks prior to planting.  Leaving them where they are will just encourage them to become taller as they grown towards the light.

How do I stop them getting to be 2 feet tall but with no strength to them?

[peapod]

Ive pinched mine out to about 3 inch per plant and made sure they have enough light in the unheated GH and water sparingly.

Not sure if it will work,as never tried before but planted mine last year and they are looking healthy and well, They do romp on so keep an eye on them

[Stree]

Just planted out my sweetpeas today. They are at tallest perhaps 7 inches, almost full size leaves at the top, very sturdy and strong.
They have been out in a cold frame since January, lid closed at night until mid February when the lid was left wide open all the time.
These were sown  1st October, unheated greenhouse.


Also have two other lots coming on, one lot sown 1st Feb  another lot 1st March. Both started in unheated greenhouse and both out in the coldframe a week after first pair of leaves.All very strong and healthy.
Sweet peas are tough plants.