Seedlings won't grow taller!

Jlryan · May 1, 2017

Hi all!
I've had my seedlings outside for almost 4 weeks now. They started out really leggy and now have great thick stalks, but don't seem to be growing taller. They're only about 5-6 inches tall right now. Any tips? I recently fertilized with fish emulsion last week.
Thanks!

MadCow333 · May 4, 2017

My guess is if they are thriving but you can't see growth, they are working on roots. I have had this happen when I transplanted young plants into their final (large) containers. They took a while to start adding height or length to their vines. Your plants spent some time thickening their stalks. That's good.

zipcode · May 5, 2017

Probably soil is still cold.
If they're stocky, all is well.

oakley · May 5, 2017

Zone 5b-6a? If your nighttime temps are 45-55 that is a bit chilly. Slows growth as
mentioned.
Are you in pots or in the ground? I'm guessing still in pots being seedlings.

I look for night temps in the 55-60 range, looking at a 10 day forecast, the week before
my frost free date, before hardening off.
We have had some very warm weather but past experience keeps me from jumping 'the gun...sure enough we have a week ahead of rain and dips down to high 30's, low 40's.

Worth1 · May 5, 2017

Warm water helps big time..
Worth

Father'sDaughter · May 5, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by oakley

Zone 5b-6a? If your nighttime temps are 45-55 that is a bit chilly. Slows growth as

mentioned.

Are you in pots or in the ground? I'm guessing still in pots being seedlings.

I look for night temps in the 55-60 range, looking at a 10 day forecast, the week before

my frost free date, before hardening off.

We have had some very warm weather but past experience keeps me from jumping 'the gun...sure enough we have a week ahead of rain and dips down to high 30's, low 40's.

Same here, so mine are staying put indoors at least for another week, despite the fact that space is getting really tight under the basement lights. If our overnight temps get to where they are staying above 50, then I'll set up my little mini greenhouse in the drivaway and move them out to it. If temps stay above 60, then I'll skip the greenhouse and just move them outside.

Jlryan · May 7, 2017

I think I figured out how to attach a picture of them...worried about fungus problems now!

May 1, 2017	#1
Jlryan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Grain Valley MO Posts: 12	Seedlings won't grow taller! Hi all! I've had my seedlings outside for almost 4 weeks now. They started out really leggy and now have great thick stalks, but don't seem to be growing taller. They're only about 5-6 inches tall right now. Any tips? I recently fertilized with fish emulsion last week. Thanks!

May 4, 2017	#2
MadCow333 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NW PA 6A Posts: 159	My guess is if they are thriving but you can't see growth, they are working on roots. I have had this happen when I transplanted young plants into their final (large) containers. They took a while to start adding height or length to their vines. Your plants spent some time thickening their stalks. That's good.

May 5, 2017	#3
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Probably soil is still cold. If they're stocky, all is well.

May 5, 2017	#4
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	Zone 5b-6a? If your nighttime temps are 45-55 that is a bit chilly. Slows growth as mentioned. Are you in pots or in the ground? I'm guessing still in pots being seedlings. I look for night temps in the 55-60 range, looking at a 10 day forecast, the week before my frost free date, before hardening off. We have had some very warm weather but past experience keeps me from jumping 'the gun...sure enough we have a week ahead of rain and dips down to high 30's, low 40's.

May 5, 2017	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Warm water helps big time.. Worth