Leggy seedlings

skidmoca 4/8/2018, 1:19 am

Hi everyone,

My broccoli seedlings seems to be tall with thin stems. I'm sure I could google it, but I was hoping experienced gardeners on this site could help. What causes it and will planting them deep with the long stem in the ground help?

Thanks
cs

DorothyG 4/8/2018, 1:24 am

Hi Skidmoca. From my experience they are lacking in light. Maybe not the right light spectrum, not bright enough light, or maybe not enough light hours. The light should be just above them, high enough that it doesn't burn their leaves but not too high. From what I have read, vegetables generally like 16 hours of light a day.
As far as planting them deep with part of the stem in the ground I can't say. Hope this helps.

skidmoca 4/8/2018, 1:50 am

DorothyG wrote:Hi Skidmoca. From my experience they are lacking in light. Maybe not the right light spectrum, not bright enough light, or maybe not enough light hours. The light should be just above them, high enough that it doesn't burn their leaves but not too high. From what I have read, vegetables generally like 16 hours of light a day.
As far as planting them deep with part of the stem in the ground I can't say. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply Dorothy G. I've had them under a grow light but maybe didn't start it soon enough, when they first came up. Still time to try some more!

**sanderson** 4/8/2018, 3:00 am

Skid, A photo of the seedlings would help members see if they are really leggy or within an acceptable range. Some seedlings can be planted deeper, like tomatoes, other will dampen off and die. Under the Search box, there are 146 topics for "seedlings".

**jimmy cee** 4/8/2018, 5:46 pm

I have learned one important fact when seed planting and that is LIGHT. Seedlings need light in their environment. And that means flooding the area with light. They become leggy because of searching and reaching up for light. Leggy seedlings are using up all energy' searching for light that should be used for maturing roots and bottom feeders. My seed growing areas have been flooded with lights right at the tips of the growing plants. Yes they will grow without all that light, however when matured, they will not be as robust as they should be....just like 2 children growing up. one having all the proper vitamins, nutritious foods, etc. The other having little or none.
The light does not need to be expensive, I have found good results with just plain daylight lamps, just a lot of them.

**AtlantaMarie** 4/9/2018, 8:21 am

Hi Jimmy!!!!! Good to see you!!

Skid, gotta agree. I put my seedlings in an east-facing window & still have some problems...

**jimmy cee** 4/9/2018, 10:35 pm

AtlantaMarie wrote:Hi Jimmy!!!!! Good to see you!!

Skid, gotta agree. I put my seedlings in an east-facing window & still have some problems...

Hi Marie, happy to be back, I missed everyone.

skidmoca 4/11/2018, 11:55 pm

I agree it was lack of light at the beginning. I had seedlings emerging that weren't getting light because I was waiting for other seedlings to emerge. How do I include a photo? Insert Image wants a URL.

**sanderson** 4/12/2018, 3:26 am

I turn on the lights at the beginning of seedling. Be my luck that things sprout and I can't see them down on the floor under the shop lights.

**jimmy cee** 4/12/2018, 11:04 pm

skidmoca wrote:I agree it was lack of light at the beginning. I had seedlings emerging that weren't getting light because I was waiting for other seedlings to emerge. How do I include a photo? Insert Image wants a URL.

Click on host an image in above box, then click on select files. That will get you into your computer folder area. Select image, then send all. wait for address to complete then click on install.
You can preview your message with the image before sending. If it doesnt look the way you want it, cancel out and start over. Once you do it a few times it becomes a snap.

skidmoca 4/13/2018, 6:43 pm

I'm happy with the middle one, not sure about the outside two.

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