Leggy vegetables

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dun1kirk Berkeley, CA(Zone 9a) May 24, 2010

To make a long story short. I posted this on vegetables but no one responded. Though my grow lights seemed to be high enough, my pac choi veggies are leggy. Now being ready for the garden, do I assume one can only cover the stem of tomatoes? So, I'll just plant them at the depth they were and see what happens?
Thanks

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catmad Pelzer, SC(Zone 7b) May 25, 2010

dun1kirk, I'm a little confused about your lights being high enough, they should be as close as possible to the tops of the plants.
I only plant tomatoes deeply, but once your veggies get outside they may well do better. There seems to be something in "real" sunlight (and rain!!) that allows them to grow stronger. When I had a few transplants that were spindly I gave them a wooden skewer to act as a stake for a short time:)

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Jim41 Delhi, LA May 25, 2010

When you plant your tomatoes, pinch off all the bottom leaves and plant them as deep as you can. A tomato will put out roots all along the stem.

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Tylersays Madison Heights, VA May 25, 2010

Pak Choi is a pretty shallow rooted plant from what I've read - I have no practical experience though. However it seems to me that a shallow rooted plant probably wouldn't like being planted to deep. What I was reading though suggested repeated sowing throughout the season to prolong the harvest. It even mentioned you could sow in October, under cloches, for a December crop! Maybe you can try again with direct sowing to the garden, under natures light, which BTW can't be duplicated no matter how we try. Even the best high pressure sodium and metal halides are like candle flames to a Kleig light when compared to our sun. And yes - the lights should be as close as possible WITHOUT touching or burning the plants. Good air movement is a must also. Fresh air is important, obviously, but the stems swaying to and fro serve to strengthen stems and promotes smaller spaces between nodes. ever notice the short, stubby oaks on a mountaintop or on the shore? That's what constant wind will do to you!
Good Luck!

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Jim41 Delhi, LA May 26, 2010

A friend of my that raises plants for the market, puts a fan blowing on his seedlings the minute they come up. Strengths the stem and keeps them from being leggy.

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