In 2 weeks, I went from excitement to anxiety. I'm a new gardener, and have always relied on starts from the nursery. We bought a few seed packets last year for direct sow in the garden (peas, carrots) which worked well. This year we decided to try it all from seed and most needed an indoor start.
As you can see from the photo, most of these guys are tall, thin, and have fallen over (or starting to lean). All except at the very right edge of the photo - the zuchinni, winter squash, and melon had bigger seeds are are coming up with heartier stems and leaves.
But for the rest - kale, brussels sprouts, tomatoes, herbs, fennel, they are looking weak. I planted 2 weeks ago. They are sitting about 5 inches below under-cupboard fluorescents in the kitchen that have been on about 12-14 hours a day. House temp is between 63 and 68. Watered each day by drip from the top. Sterile potting mix used, but the pots themselves are just from old start purchases that we've stored (not washed).
As I've been reading these last couple days, it seems maybe they aren't getting enough light, I should've watered from the bottom, I should've put a fan on them, should've cleaned the pots first, etc. Having not done any of those things (I actually don't know what to do about the light as I have not a single good sunny window in the house), my question is whether there is still hope. Can I still do something to strengthen these guys up or should I just start over? That's the single question I haven't seen answered in all the internet boards I've looked at.
Thanks gardeners!
they're leggy.
Means it's time to get them outside and/or get them some more light -- they're spending all their energy trying to get to the fluorescent lights (which don't give them much of the spectrum that they need)rather than filling out.
It's cold outside. They'd get more sun certainly, but at the expense of temps that are at best low 50s right now. Do you think bringing them out for 30 minutes a day would help - or are these a lost cause?
I'm not sunshine (sunshine is exactly what these leggy guys need), but I'll weigh in: "hardening off" is the process of gradually exposing the seedlings to more light & outside temps. Just put 'em out, in weak sun/partial sun for ever-lengthening times. Not overnight, at this point.
I'm actually wondering whether starting from seeds and our family are a bad match. On the vast majority of days, there is not someone at home that can baby them, bring them outside and in again an hour later, rotate them in front of a window, etc. All of us are typically out all day, back in the evenings.
Those are quite leggy. Is there a cover on the light? They do need quite bright lighting for 14-16 hours/day. You may also be over watering. Do you check the soil moisture first to be sure they need water? What is your planting date? Work back from there to see if you have time to start over. We have been guilty in the past of starting seeds several weeks too early. You also should start in smaller containers (cell packs) and replant as they grow.
There's a cover on the light but not removable (attached on one side). And it isn't that bright. It was the best we could do in terms of consistency. Our windows face north mostly. The bedrooms have high windows facing south, but there is a hill behind these blocking the direct sun most of the day. Maybe our house just isn't meant to do plants from seed.
What would be the benefit of smaller containers? Mine are either 2 or 4 inch - I used what I had.
We're very northwestern PNW. So it doesn't get into the 60s outside regularly until May.
You can check your frost-free date here. http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-... That will give you an idea of when it's safe to plant. Also, it's not just ambient, but soil, temperatures that matter in when to plant outdoors.
You start in smaller containers so that as the plant grows you can replant it more deeply into the next pot size. It encourages strong roots and stems. Also large pots can hold a lot of moisture--more than what a tiny seedling needs.
So the $64K question is can I save these seedlings, or not? What's your opinion based on the photo.
From the photo and the fact you don't have really bright lights I would say no, it's not worth trying to save them. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. You should have time to start over--but only with the right containers, lighting, etc. Start from seed is a PITA which is why I'm not doing it this year.
No. They didn't get enough light. If they live long enough to plant in the ground they will die when you do so.
Start over.
Make a hothouse out of a plastic storage container (sweater box). Use a 40l clear plastic storage box. Drill some 3/4-1" holes, about 5-6 on the bottom of the box and two hole on opposite sides, one side low one side high to encourage circulation. The lid of the box is used as the bottom.
Put the box outside in the sun in the morning, bring inside in the evening.
Place an inch of water in the lid (used as the bottom or floor of the hotbox, let the pots absorb the water, also keeps things humid inside.
I monitor the temperature, trying for 80-90 degrees, if the temp rises over 90, I prop up one side of the box using a 3-4" stick.
If you want to continue to try inside, purchase a grow light, $20, or replace the undercounted tube with a grow tube.
I am in San Jose CA, I usually don't transplant until after Mother's Day, it is too cold.
I wouldn't bother with starting indoors/under lights/or in a green house the:Zucchini,winter squash,melons,kale,some of the herbs,and the fennel . We are in zone 3 and start all of those outdoors directly seeded . We start some stuff outdoors in April,some transplants in April, but tender stuff in June.
The tomatoes,B.sprouts, and perennial herbs we start indoors. The sprouts can be transplanted early before last frost, not the tomatoes.
Get hold of some "grow light fluorescent tubes" for your fixtures and put them right down on top of the seedlings. In your case move the trays UP!
Always sterilize any used flats next time, anything to prevent plant disease.
I wouldn't throw them out, though! You've gotten them this far -- now it's time for Charles Atlas!
Put them in the bedrooms where they get bright natural light -- THAT is what they need. It's actually good that it's not direct sunlight at this point -- they need to be stronger before they are taken outside and baked in direct sunlight (now that would be a tragedy -- plant all your little seedlings and come home that night to find them all sun-boiled.)
If you leave them in the bright light of the south-facing window, you can then leave them all day without worrying about overexposure.
A small fan will definitely help toughen them up, too.
I think the OP will have a very hard time bringing these to a useable state. Then there are the issues of repotting, hardening off, etc.
I'll have to be super creative about how to get them up in these windows, as they have beds underneath, not tables or counters.
But I was going to say, before all hope is lost, that it was 2 weeks ago (not even) that I planted everything. It hasn't been 2 weeks since they sprouted. Some of them have come up pretty much early this week, so perhaps there is still hope of salvaging them. I do realize that I am grasping at straws, but I have nothing to lose either as the other choice is to chuck them.
What do y'all think of this wacky idea? I could take the entire tray of seeds and put it on the dash of the car this weekend. We'd get lots more sun and light, greenhouse effect, protected environment as far as wind/rain. We can drive around in the other car.
I'm just trying to gauge how much more energy to invest in these seeds. I think my practical alternative - since I really don't have a good light source - is to wait and plant outdoors for the seeds that will work with a direct sow, and just buy tomato starts at the nursery in May.
Start over, its not worth wasting time on weak seedlings. Your lights should be just 2 or 3" above them so they get thick stems and bush out instead of reaching for the light.
These babies are just about 2 1/2 weeks after sprouting. The lights get raised as they grow so they are always only a couple inches from the light. Each fixture was $11 and each set of 2 bulbs was $8
weezie, are you using grow lights there?
sasha, I'm sorry about your babies. I live in Michigan with a short growing season and I haven't had a ton of luck either, the few times I've tried to start seeds early. They need a lot of light and care. I'm lucky to have some excellent nurseries nearby, so I buy all my vegetable plants in four or six-inch pots right before putting them in the ground (or straw bales.)
Now that marijuana is legal here there are lots of grow stores. I have contemplating getting some grow lights so I can start a wider variety of seeds.
No, they are daylight balanced (6500K) T12 bulbs. Grow lights are too pricy and I've just never needed them for seedlings. I live in zone 9b/10 so I overwinter outside :) by covering things on cold nights. If you were to overwinter larger plants inside I would see the need for grow lights for sure.
I start from seeds because I grow so many varieties (heirloom, OP, and endangered are something I focus on,) that I can't get them from local nurseries. I'm headed to a neighbor's plant sale this morning- she's also chemical free, non-GMO, heirloom, etc and will be picking up some heirloom eggplants and squashes. I always make room in my garden to support her sale- she has great plants!
I wouldn't give up quite yet. I have a similar problem. Am not growing tomatoes under lights (don't usually need to do so) but on a sunny windowsill. However, this Spring the sun has decided to desert this part of the UK (it's what Bill Bryson so memorably describes as like living inside Tupperware ) so the tomatoes have gone all leggy like yours. I have repotted them slight deeper (so they don't fall over) and am putting them outside in full sunlight (or what passes for it here) for most of the day. We will see what happens.
I do find seeds are quite trial and error, but so satisfying when they do work. I usually but a couple of back up plants from the local market.
They're history. Start over and follow the advice the others have given.
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