Leggy, spindly vegetable seedlings are weak, more prone to disease and potentially unproductive.
A leggy vegetable plant is an indicator that the plant is not getting enough light.
To avoid these spindly vegetables:
* remove pots from heated propogators as soon as the shoots have emerged from the soil
* turn pots on window sills 90degrees,daily, so that the seedlings do not grow towards the light
* take plants off window sills if they start to elongate
* give seedlings plenty of light, from all sides
The courgette plant below was left in the propogator too long. The plant is so leggy that it cannot stand up on it’s own. It has a long, weak stem.
elongated-seedling
The marrow seedling below has a short, strong stem which is able to support the growing leaves. This is how it should be.
marrow-seedlings
The marrow plants shown below have been left on the window sill too long. The stems have elongated, and they will start to flop over if they are not removed to a lighter spot soon. The pot has been turned occassionally, but not recently, as shown by the leaves which are
reaching towards the window light.
spindly-plant
Young vegetable plants need watching closely. They need plenty of light from all directions. Once a vegetable plant becomes leggy it is too late.
Leggy, spindly vegetable seedlings are weak, more prone to disease and potentially unproductive.
A leggy vegetable plant is an indicator that the plant is not getting enough light.
To avoid these spindly vegetables:
* remove pots from heated propogators as soon as the shoots have emerged from the soil
* turn pots on window sills 90degrees,daily, so that the seedlings do not grow towards the light
* take plants off window sills if they start to elongate
* give seedlings plenty of light, from all sides
The courgette plant below was left in the propogator too long. The plant is so leggy that it cannot stand up on it’s own. It has a long, weak stem.
elongated-seedling
The marrow seedling below has a short, strong stem which is able to support the growing leaves. This is how it should be.
marrow-seedlings
The marrow plants shown below have been left on the window sill too long. The stems have elongated, and they will start to flop over if they are not removed to a lighter spot soon. The pot has been turned occassionally, but not recently, as shown by the leaves which are
reaching towards the window light.
spindly-plant
Young vegetable plants need watching closely. They need plenty of light from all directions. Once a vegetable plant becomes leggy it is too late.