spindly tomato seedlings

[Normans Mum]

Some advice needed, please.
I have started my seedlings off in a heated propagator. They also have lots of light, but would appear to be growing quite spindly. What causes this? thought I was doing everything right.

[Thelma Sanders]

get them off the heat, and put tin foil or white card behind them, so the light from the window reflects back onto them.

[Bigmallly]

If you can, prick them out and plant them deeper. They are reaching for the light.

[Potstubsdustbins]

IMO the only way for tom seedlings to get enough light at this time of year is to use artificial.

As said above you might be able to save the day by potting them on but pot them deep. If they have any true leaves then pot them up to these leaves.

Potty

[Normans Mum]

Thanks for all your advice.

[Samurailord]

I had been toying with the idea of planting up some toms and chillis, but with the limited amount of light I get through the window where they would have to sit I have decided to wait until mid Feb before reaching for the potting compost.

Hopefully that way I will avoid leggy seedlings and the resulting plants will be stronger for it, and will soon catch up to those planted earlier.

That's the plan, anyway.

Andy

[Potstubsdustbins]

My last years record for Sungold reads as follows.

11/02 Modules to window sill.

18/02 100% germination, modules to grow light.

10/03 to 3" pots still under grow light.

28/03 to 5" pots on window sill, plants to big for grow light.

06/04 Not looking good, plants very spindly.

12/04 Bite the bullet, cut off all leaders and place in milk bottles.

22/04 Good roots formed to 4" pots.

05/05 All plants doing well Phew!!!!!!!!!!!!

11/05 To GH in final pots, some plants with buds.

First week in March for me this year.

Potty

[redser]

"First week in March for me this year"
If you mean for first sowings, then I'm with you all the way. My notes from last year read something similar and I used lights too. Sowed February 7th last year. At the bottom of the page I have a note written to my future self, dated some time early April 2012, DO NOT SOW ANY SEEDS UNTIL MARCH NEXT YEAR!!
I think the lights certainly give you an extra month so it is still like sowing very early if you start in early March.

Bloody hard reading the early tomao thread though and sitting on your hands

[Two_Sheds]

I have started my seedlings off in a heated propagator.

As soon as seeds germinate, they need to come OUT of the heat

[Thelma Sanders]

I told'em that LOL

[Two_Sheds]

and try putting some tin foil or white card behind them

[Thelma Sanders]

what're you like? *shakes head*

[veggiechicken]

You missed out the "so the light from the window reflects back onto them." at the end

[Normans Mum]

I have decided that next year I will wait until the end of February.... it's like being an expectant mother. Have potted them up as deep as I dare, opened the blind so they have enough light......
Will sit on my laurels (and my hands, next time and wait! )

[Two_Sheds]

what're you like? *shakes head*

Actually, I simply didn't read the rest of the thread: just the original post. No time !

next year I will wait until the end of February...

Feb for me, too. At the earliest.