As you can see from the image the seedling looks good and this tip works well to compensate for the problem with all types of leggy seedlings.

Images centre and right show the same tomato seedling after it has been potted on with several cms of (leggy) stem below soil level. Instead of potting on at soil level, reduce the amount of leggy seedling above soil, and you will find it grows on as a much better seedling it's leggy past forgotten. When you put the seedling into the pot sink it well below soil level, you are in effect burying part of the leggy stem under the soil. If you put a small seedling (or any small plant ) into a large pot it will not thrive. When potting on it is important to pot up only a slightly larger container. It's tempting to put the seedling into a larger pot to save time. To pot on, ease the plug out of the pot from the base, and pull the seedlings apart gently (as in image two.) Avoid touching the stems which are very delicate and if damaged the plant may not recover handle carefully and hold by the leaves. The solution lies in how you pot on the seedling. Also, turn the pot every couple of days so the light is not constantly on one side of the seedling.īut what if you have done this and still got a weedy seedling? Here's how: Hold a seed between your thumb and forefinger. By doing this a larger percentage of your seeds will germinate and they will sprout a few days earlier. Nicking the seed with a nail clipper breaks the outer coat of the seed so it can absorb water immediately. You can reduce the chances of the seedling becoming leggy by germinating in the bes light conditions. You may choose to nick your sweet pea seeds before planting. The image below left are my tomato seedlings with just that problem. Combined with low light levels, as is often the case early in the year, and the seedling stretches to the light and looks 'leggy', or weedy. Most gardeners have less than perfect conditions and germinate seeds on window sills and warm spots in the house where the light is predominately from one side which causes the seedling to pull to the light. As the plant grows it gets all round light and develops a straight study stem. Perfect plants purchased from garden centres are germinated and grown in ideal conditions, just the right amount of heat and humidity, and critically, all round light, that is 360°. Leggy seedlings are caused by uneven light. The problem is leggy seedlings a common problem when germinating from seed, especially early on in the year. Some seeds, noteably Chillies, need a long growing season and are often start early in the year. It may be early in the year, but already gardening thoughts are turning to seed sowing.

Leggy sweet pea seedlings