Limp lame lettuce

[silver birch]

I planted some iceberg-type lettuce seeds a month ago into a seed tray which I've kept on on north-facing window ledge, occasionally bringing them over to the south side for some extra warmth. I'm wondering if I should have waited and sown them where they are to grow because I can't work out how I can repot the limp lame things.

They've always been a bit flimsy but I thought they might just need a bit more water, or a little more warmth and they'll perk up, but it hasn't happened yet.

They've got a couple of pairs of leaves on them but are just lying in a heap on the tray.

Does this sound right? (sorry, originally posted this under the fruit section...)

[Eyren]

Do you have them in too warm a spot? Lettuce is a cool-weather crop - it was one of the few things I had no trouble growing last year!

[Paulottie]

5 possible reasons to check out first

• They really dried out at some stage
• They damped off...rotted at soil level(fungus)
• the roots rotted (too wet /scarid fly)
• Consistancy-best to keep them in constant conditions, a east facing window, rather like getting sunburn
• they got frostbite

[Cutecumber]

If the leases are still relatively ok it sounds like they've flopped over because they can't support their own weight. The stems are too tall and thin.

If you can't give the lettuce plent of light they are going to do this (i.e. grow too tall too quickly). Either find a brighter spot or wait and sow them outside.

You may want to re-sow.