How to best avoid the leggy-ness in a greenhouse

[scottfsmith]

Last year I had these 2'+ tomato seedlings that were sticks so I want to get them a little less leggy this year. I start the seeds pretty early because I have lots of room to grow them out nice and big in my greenhouse. I think my biggest problem was keeping them in the small trays too long, they were too crammed together. That I can easily fix by spreading them out a lot more. I also put a fan in the greenhouse which will give them some motion. Is there anything else I should do? I have a thermostat for the cooling fan and maybe some temperature is better than another?

Scott

[Suze]

Scott, an early transplanting helps in forming a good root system and also slowing down early rampant foliage growth, so yes, best not to leave them in the seedling trays too long.

Also, growing seedings on the cool side is preferable if you can do it. I like to grow my seedlings at temps in the high 50's-low 60's whenever possible, which usually means an unheated garage here. Except this year, because we actually had a taste of winter.

In addition, be careful not to overwater (many folks do). Let the potting mix dry out quite a bit between waterings, but not to the point of extreme seedling wilt. Being a bit stingy with the water will tend to cause seedlings to concentrate on root development over foliage growth.

[Gimme3]

Scott...in adition to Suze's advice....transplanting induces to a degree...rootshock. If you have any youngsters that seem overly ambitious..simply repot them...an that will give them...positive benefit, as well as slow down their reach for the sky. A leggy plant aint all that bad...tho...if if an when u get to plantin time...cause its beneficial to lay it down horizontal in its final Home, and induce even greater rooting.

it all depends on...Timing... asa to how an best manage...legginess, but it aint a real fear...if ya jus bear the Future in mind, and understand...the current situation.

Best Wishes...)))

[scottfsmith]

Thanks guys. I have managed OK in the past with leggy plants by laying them in a trough, but I'm hoping I can get the plants to adapt faster if they are not so leggy.

One thing I meant to ask about is I never fertilize my seedlings; does that have any effect on legginess? I am thinking of doing at least a little fertilizing this year. I am starting the plants 10 weeks early and planning to plant them out nice and big.

Scott

[bcday]

One rule of thumb I came across for growing stocky seedlings was to keep them far enough apart so that the leaves don't touch or shade each other. That really eats up a lot of space, but if you have the room, you might try it. When the foliage of neighboring plants overlaps so that they shade each other, that's when they all try to outgrow each other to get more sun, and you get tall skinny plants.

Cooler temperatures and a fan help too. And you might try brushing the tops in addition to the fan, it seems to work.

I think if you fertilize plants that are crowded, they'll grow faster to even greater heights, , so do try to space them farther apart and make sure they get good light. I use Miracle-Gro mix which has time-release fertilizer already in it, and at 10 weeks of age any plants that I haven't planted out yet are pretty big.

[duajones]

Suze, just wondering what you do about temps for your fall plantings. I dont even have a garage for the spring seedlings and the temps are pretty much uncontrollable in the fall.

[scottfsmith]

bcday, I have tons of room so I am indeed hoping to space them far apart in the grenhouse. Last year I had some in those "speedling" trays which puts them 3" apart and those guys ended up being the leggiest. This year I am growing many fewer plants and I think I have around a square foot for each plant. I will try a small amount of fertilizer.

Scott

[Suze]

Originally Posted by duajones

Suze, just wondering what you do about temps for your fall plantings. I dont even have a garage for the spring seedlings and the temps are pretty much uncontrollable in the fall.

Duane, I just accept "what is". My fall seedlings are started inside, though. Warmer than I'd like [I generally keep AC at 78], but not nearly as bad as doing it outside with temps in high 90's -100's. Talk about lanky seedlings!

I know... some might be thinking it sounds "natural" and good to start seeds outside if the weather is warm enough, and perhaps silly of me to fire up the lights again in June. LOL.

I've done it both ways, and have come to realize that that giving those fall seedlings a month or so inside out of the inferno gives them a much better chance at good root development. One has to be super careful about hardening off in late July-early Aug, though.