ornamental cabbage - kale

I have started some seeds in my GH. I started them in Jiffy pellets. I have since repotted them in little plastic pots. I noticed they look leggy. Should I repot them like you would tomatoes (up to the first set of true leaves)? They look really healthy and green though. When I repotted them, I did not put the dirt level above the first set of leaves that emerges (not even going to attemp to spell what they're called) My GH is open (windows and doors) but should I put these outside where they are getting more direct sun since it is changing due to the time of year. I hope to get some tips here. If they turn out right, they will be given as gifts.
Thanks! @ work so can't send pics right now
Dawn

Here is a pic of them yesterday

Hi Dawn, I have a bunch growing right now also. When they were seedlings, they can get leggy and I sink them down to the first set of true leaves (you can do this with kale/cabbage) when I transplant them. Mine are out in full sun-they will not get as leggy in full sun. Depending on when you are going to give them away-you could either leave them or put them in a larger container. Definitely move them to full sun though. Also, moths are going to start laying eggs and the worms are going to start eating holes in the leaves, but Orthene works great once a week to kill them, if you do have that problem. Every year I do. We plant them end of Sept/Oct with the pansies

Yours do look very healthy!

Thank you very much! I have pulled off 2 worms on them. I will move them outside then, where they will get more direct sun. If I do not repot them, will they fill out (like you see in the stores)? Or should I repot them?
Thanks
Dawn

most of those are in larger containers, full sun and sometimes they use growth retardants to keep them short and full (mostly the cabbages). Keeping them on the dry side will help with a shorter plant.
If you spray for worms-do it in very early am or late afternoon when the sun is off them. Great gifts!

Thanks again. I will wait then to spray this evening. I do not have any growth retardents so I will have to take my chances. I will repot to a bigger pot and plant deeper.
Dawn

Your plants look nice and healthy! Good job girl :) I transplanted mine three times before they went into the ground, that stem holding them up kept getting too long and I had to put row covers over their little heads to keep the cabbage butterflies from laying eggs on them, if you have a row cover handy it's a lot easier than spraying all of the time.

Lea

Thanks LeBug! (love the name) they are looking pretty good. I haven't had a chance to repot yet but I do have them outside where they are getting direct sun.

going along fine I think

pic #2

I have had to keep a constance vigil for these though

You gotta really look for them.

one more

Very nice. The ones I started in July aren't anywhere near that big....but then I did kinda forget about them until a week ago...Ooops!...LOL

They look great! I am so glad you posted pics of those lil worms so I'll know what to look for. I just recently sowed my seeds and they have germinated but are still small plants with no true leaves yet. I can't wait till they get bigger! - That's if I don't kill them first! lol

Start looking for the worms! They zone in on them as soon as something greens pops up I think. We've had a lot of rain in the last week or so, so I'm constantly putting something on them. I went out last night to check on them and I plucked I know every bit of 20 -30 worms! I ended up spraying dormant oil spray on them. I don't know what else to do. I plan to give them away this weekend. Let someone else worry about them!
dawn