Slow Seedlings?

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
1997 Ossian, IN(Zone 5a) Apr 22, 2011

This year I started lots of flower seeds under lights. My last frost date is May 15, but my seedlings don't seem to be growing very quickly. Is something wrong or am I being impatient? Thanks!

Post #8513280
Quote
pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) Apr 22, 2011

How close are the seedlings to the light?

Post #8513315
Quote
1997 Ossian, IN(Zone 5a) Apr 25, 2011

pirl, the seedlings are probably about 5-6 inches from the light. Thanks!

Post #8518943
Quote
cathy166 Stamford, CT(Zone 6b) May 05, 2011

I don't know how many seedlings you have, but if you take them out for a few hours during the day and bring them in at night, you'll be hardening them off. A couple of hours in the sunlight, even on an overcast day, gives a fuller spectrum of light than 8 hours under a plant light. When they're getting enough light, they stop getting leggy, and the stems become thicker and stronger. They'll be much easier to transplant. Keep an eye on your weather forecast.

For the last month we've had our (tomato) plants sitting on the dash on a van we seldom use. Now that it is warmer, we've put a few in the ground. If the forecast is no lower than 40 degrees, we leave them outside. If we think there might be a frost, they go inside. Our last freeze date is May 15th, and we're been keeping our fingers crossed for the plants already in the ground. As soon as they were outside, these plants smiled back at us: their stems got strong and purple in color, and they started to bush. Since they've had so much TLC since the end of February, I just can't put them all in the ground, just in case.

Pirl, I'm so glad your son's on the mend.

Marcia

Post #8542727
Quote
pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) May 06, 2011

Thanks, Marcia.

Hardening off plants is critical though many people either refuse to recognize it or must be willing to lose the plants since they take them from a warm home and plant them directly. Leaves get burned and plants are lost just because they won't take an extra week to do the right things for the plants they claim they love. It is not "babying" them at all - it's adjusting them slowly to more and more light and sunshine.

Lights are great for raising plants but in no way are they the same as being outside, just as Marcia said.

Boxes and nursery pots can be used effectively to cover plants in the case of a frost warning.

Post #8543212
Quote
cathy166 Stamford, CT(Zone 6b) May 06, 2011

We've been creating covering, using garbage cans, bell jars, To say the very least, our weather has been interesting, but thankfully the lows have not been too bad.

Post #8544537
Quote
pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) May 06, 2011

Not like the middle of last May!

Post #8544555
Quote
cathy166 Stamford, CT(Zone 6b) May 06, 2011

Early May 2010 HOT; middle COLD. How screwy.

Post #8544560
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP