Leggy veggies

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LiseP San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) Oct 18, 2009

When plants are leggy, is that always a sun problem? Or are there other things that can cause that?

Specifically, my radishes and beets are leggy.

Thanks.

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Oct 18, 2009

Good perspective, Lisa, questioning legginess...

No, it isn't always a sun/lack of sun problem. It could also be from too much nitrogen causing excessive top growth as well as from an imbalance of other nutrients, in the case of your root crops (radish and beets) there could be a lack of phosphorus. In that case what happens is all the growth would go to the greens, very little to the roots. Root crops really need some phosphorus and potassium to have balanced growth (tops and bottoms!).

Does this help with your situation, giving you an idea of what to do to correct your problem?

Happy Gardening!
Shoe

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LiseP San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) Oct 19, 2009

Yes, thanks. I'll emphasize a bit more phosphorus and see what happens, although it may be too late for these seedlings. Once they've gotten leggy, is there any correcting it, or do I just start over? These tops are stretched way up on long skinny reddish stems. It's night time or I'd probably go out and take a photo, although they look so goofy I hate to display them! LOL.


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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Oct 19, 2009

They could easily still make radish and beets if you let them be. Besides, I eat beet tops (stir-fried in a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper, sometimes topped with a bit of crumbled feta cheese. Yummy!). My neighbor cooks radish tops like you do other greens, too!

I suppose you could try some sort of liquid P if you want to get some working right away. Or, if you are still early in your growing season go ahead and add some bone meal or ground phosphate rock or well-cured compost...it doesn't take much phosphorus for a plant to benefit from it.

Shoe

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LiseP San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) Oct 20, 2009

Thanks, I'll add a tad of rock phosphate and make sure they get as much sun as possible and hope they catch up. There's not much to them at the moment -- would make a pretty tiny meal! lol

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1lisac Liberty Hill, TX(Zone 8a) Oct 21, 2009

Is there a chance that they are too close together? That can cause legginess also. You may try the Hasta Grow 6-12-6. The same one I recommended for your peppers. P is good for fruits and roots. That just sounds wrong, but anyway...
Lisa

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