skip to main content

Vegetable Gardening

Starting seeds inside

HowardWeatherly

14 years ago

Folks, My wife and I usually start seeds outside but I decided to try getting a head start this year and have a question regarding the seedlings. It seems when they sprout up the new leaves are to heavy for the stems (about 2 - 3") and the plant seems not strong enough to pick itself up. Am I planting the seeds too shallow or should I stake the stems? (Tomatoes, Kale, Brocoli The lettuce seems to be doing great!

TIA Howard

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

lgteacher
14 years ago
The stems are lanky because they grow toward the light. Having a light a few inches above the seedlings will keep them from becoming too spindly.
digdirt2
14 years ago
Supplemental lighting is needed 1" above the plants. Check out all the FAQs (there is one on leggy seedlings and lighting) and info on this question posted over on the Growing from Seed forum here.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing from Seed forum
Related Professionals
Fayetteville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Beaumont Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Dubuque Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Sioux City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bozeman Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Vancouver Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Washington Landscape Contractors · Columbia Landscape Contractors · Charlotte Landscape Contractors · Anniston Landscape Contractors · New Bedford Landscape Contractors · Clearlake Landscape Contractors · Brooklyn Accessory Dwelling Units · Concord Accessory Dwelling Units · Redding Accessory Dwelling Units
HowardWeatherly
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks folks, the lights are about 12" above, I will block up the trays and see what happens!

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Seeds or Seedlings? How to Get Your Garden Started

By Abundant City

Growing delicious herbs and vegetables starts with knowing your goals and when you want to plant

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

Houzz Interview: Miss Mustard Seed’s Charming Pennsylvania Home

INSIDE HOUZZ Inside Houzz: Starting From Scratch in a Manhattan Apartment

By Mitchell Parker

Even no silverware was no sweat for a Houzz pro designer, who helped a globe-trotting consultant get a fresh design start

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Tips to Start a Garden — Can-Do Ideas for Beginners

By Alison Hodgson

Green up your landscape even if you're short on time, money and knowledge, with these manageable steps for first-time gardeners

HOUSEPLANTS How to Grow Orchids Indoors

By Marianne Lipanovich

Orchids are the exotic aristocrats of the flower world and can make themselves comfortable in almost any home

CONTAINER GARDENS 8 Easy Container Plants to Grow From Seed

Get beautiful blooms and herbs in summer by starting these choice garden picks from seed in spring

GARDENING GUIDES How to Plant a New Lawn From Seed

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Choose from more grass varieties and save money over sod by starting your lawn from seed

INSIDE HOUZZ For Home Pros: A Quick-Start Guide to the Houzz Site Designer

Want to create a great-looking website for your business? Our free tool with customizable themes makes it easy

GARDENING GUIDES How to Stop Worrying and Start Loving Clay Soil

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Clay has many more benefits than you might imagine

Sponsored

Industry Leading Kitchen & Bath Remodelers in Franklin County, Ohio

More Discussions

Garden Tales >>> July 2026

18

Soil mix elevated beds

7

Picking tomatoes just starting to turn red?

10

Anyone here ever had root aphids?

9

Wish I hadn't been so smug

16