When to fertilize seedlings? And legginess issues

Starlight · May 4, 2016

Boy that is some legginess. Usually you get that kind of legginess from not enough light. When your seedlings sprout, keep your lights just maybe like a half to 3/4" in above them. The lights won't burn them. Then as they reach the lights, just raise up tiny bit at a time.

If you don't have enough containers to plant individually down deep, you might get a plastic tub, one that maybe 4 " deep. We call them under the bed plastic bins. Cut a bunch of holes in bottom and sides for drainage, fill with some soil, then plant you seedlings long ways leaving just a little bit of the tops showing and cover with more soil. You want just little foliage showing and put out in some sun.

I wouldn't plant them long ways deep either. That might hold them til you can get outside. Only thing I don't know and more experienced growers might know if with them being that little and if stem buried will they produce new little feeder hairy roots.

There some Tv folks here that know how to tell you do it real well.

May 4, 2016	#14
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Boy that is some legginess. Usually you get that kind of legginess from not enough light. When your seedlings sprout, keep your lights just maybe like a half to 3/4" in above them. The lights won't burn them. Then as they reach the lights, just raise up tiny bit at a time. If you don't have enough containers to plant individually down deep, you might get a plastic tub, one that maybe 4 " deep. We call them under the bed plastic bins. Cut a bunch of holes in bottom and sides for drainage, fill with some soil, then plant you seedlings long ways leaving just a little bit of the tops showing and cover with more soil. You want just little foliage showing and put out in some sun. I wouldn't plant them long ways deep either. That might hold them til you can get outside. Only thing I don't know and more experienced growers might know if with them being that little and if stem buried will they produce new little feeder hairy roots. There some Tv folks here that know how to tell you do it real well.