I like winter sowing but...

I can't get most of the sprouts to grow any bigger. I feel I did everything right and used good potting soil. I live in zone 8 and it is going to be too late for my poppies and snaps and other cool weather plants. Do any of you have secrets that get your seedlings to grow faster?
Thanks,
Karen

Karri_sue: How big are those poppies and snaps? Are they still in jugs, or planted in the garden?

Karen

They are still in jugs, they look like they have just barely sprouted. I planted them in Jan. or Feb.

I found that my sprouts grew much quicker and bigger once I planted them out. I know to get my sprouts planted out much earlier this year for better growth.

Joanne

So they have true leaves?

Karen

Some of them do but not all.

They can be planted out as soon as they have true leaves. As netwiz mentioned above, they grow much faster when planted out into beds. If it makes you feel any better, most of mine are still tiny too, though I didn't sow any poppies this year. My snaps are just getting their first true leaves.

Don't forget, once they get true leaves, it's time to start feeding with a dilute fertilizer.

Karen

Thanks for the input!
Karen