If your lettuce seedlings are now more leggy than in the photo, they definitely need to go outside without further delay. Show Full Article. Stems that are too weak and thin can mean plants that are unable to stand up to outdoor weather conditions that include wind and rain. Leggy seedlings are those that become spindly, stretched and delicate instead of full and strong. You have so many of them, you can select the shortest and most robust to transplant. Prepare seed trays.

Step by Step Thinning of Seedlings: Illustrations: Step 1. Step 2. These seedlings can be less vigorous and more prone to flopping over and failing to thrive. The good news is some seedlings, including lettuce, beets, and spinach, can be harvested and tossed into salads or other recipes at any time, so all is not lost.

Mold on the soil is caused from over watering, not having air flow and not disinfecting your pots. Learn how to keep plants from getting leggy and have bushier, more bountiful flora. But wait until they've got a couple of true leaves before transplanting them. Transplanting excessive lettuce seedlings is a viable alternative to throwing away seedlings when you thin the crop. You should give them a bit of protection with clear plastic for a week or so.

There are a couple of reasons why plants are tall and leggy.

A very common mistake some gardeners make when starting their seeds can include depriving their seedlings of the light they need to thrive and grow. It is also just simply common to some species. Tiny seeds like carrots or lettuce only barely need to be covered with dirt. Leggy plant growth may be the result of too much nitrogen or even low light situations. Cover lightly with soil and water well. Someone stole the seeds. If your seedlings are tall, "leggy" or thin, understand this is caused by the plant having to "reach" for their light source. Other seed starting problems. When these plants are transplanted later, they are likely to have problems. How to Grow Tomatoes From Seed What is Direct Seeding or Direct Sowing? To help save your seedlings… Plant Your Seeds Germination rates typically vary from 70 to 90 percent, so you should plant more seeds than you think you'll really need. Protect against slugs.

Greenhouse lettuce—lettuce raised in a greenhouse—will undoubtedly have to be transplanted from its nursery-purchased container into a more appropriate container for greenhouse growing. Moisten the medium in preparation for sowing the seeds. Plants that become leggy or floppy tend to fall over, produce fewer flowers and create an untidy spindly appearance. You can start your lettuce seeds in store-bought seed trays or make your own out of an old egg carton, box or newspaper.Fill the seed trays to within 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) of the top with a soilless growing medium. If you're thinning a crop of lettuce seedlings, you can actually add the tiny thinnings to your next salad. Tips for Growing 10 Types of Vegetables in Containers. ... Just as a fan is important to prevent leggy seedlings, having good air flow is important for preventing fungal problems.