Seedlings - I think I've messed them up

[NoPeasForTheWicked]

Two weeks ago I planted my first (ever!) seeds in Jiffy 7s in an unheated propagator in my chilly spare room. Two sorts of lettuce, some radish and leeks. I planted three seeds in each Jiffy 7.

Now the room must be warmer than I thought because they germinated in no time and the radish and lettuce seedlings are about 4 inches high and flopping over. The leek 'grass' is about an inch and a half and beginning to unfold.

For the last five days I have put the propagator outside during the day with the lid on, and I am planning to buy a big plastic cloche tomorrow (the plastic fabric type ones like mini greenhouses) and transfer them into pots and put them in that, thinning out the most leggy ones. Sadly I don't have a proper greenhouse. I'm going to get a cold frame too - Lidl have cheap ones this weekend.

Do you all think this is a waste of time as far as the radish and lettuces are concerned? I thought that I could plant them quite deep. Hopefully the leeks will be ok. It's nice and mild here in Devon so I don't think frost will be a problem. Do you think I should give up and start again or try to save them? Thanks all...

[rustylady]

Your lettuces and leeks should be fine, radishes would be better sown into bigger pots as they don't transplant well.

[Potstubsdustbins]

My radish, leeks and lettuce are in a cold green house and have yet to germinate.

With regards to your radish and lettuce I would throw them into the compost bin if you have one and reset with new seed in your new cold frame.

Your leeks may just be OK.

Colin

[Florence Fennel]

NPFTW welcome to the Vine. I agree with Colin, start again when you have your new equipment and sow again outside. We growers all learn by our mistakes and the valuable advice you can get on here. Better luck with the next lot

[kathyd]

Hi and welcome . Have to agree with others regarding the lettuce and radish - they grow so fast anyway it'll be no big loss to be honest. I could be wrong, but I don't think you can just plant all seedlings deep if they get leggy, which seems to be what you were wondering? I know you can do it with tomatoes and peppers, which grow extra roots on their stems, but I think lots of things just rot if you transplant them too deep. And I agree with you - stick with the leeks! They sound fine, and they'll be stuffed into quite deep holes anyway .

[mudpies]

Hi - good for you for growing your own - it's so exciting when things start to grow isn't it. I don't think I'll ever get over that awe and wonder of what tiny little seeds can do. My hubby gets really fed up this time of year with me dragging him to look at tiny little green things and expecting him to get as excited as me - that's why I love this forum and lots of like minded peeps.
Lettuce and raddish grow really quick and you can start some off every few weeks so you have an ongoing crop through the summer rather than a glut. Pop the experiments on the compost and start again - they'll be up in no time. I'd probably just use the windowsill though -will probably be fine now. Enjoy - and watch out - it's addictive!

[vicky]

Don't chuck the radish and lettuce seedlings - eat them in a salad - microveg! And pretend you planned to do that all along!

[Pa Snips]

Sounds like you're in a similar situation to me. I'm going to plant mine out anyway, just to see what will happen, consider it an experiment. If they don't come to anything there's nothing lost, except for a bit of pot space, but as a newbie to the world of veg growing I don't expect a bumper harvest this year, just a few small edible things and a lot of knowledge gained will do me nicely.

Don't worry about it, just enjoy the learning.

[justgimmeethefaxmaam]

Hello & welcome NPFTW
I wouldn't try to save your radishes & lettuces.
Give yourself a break & start seeds again somewhere a wee bit cooler perhaps.
It's a strange climate down here in South Devon, doesn't seem to relate to anywhere else I find.
We get great germination rates ++ sometimes followed by leggy leggy leggy if we don't move seedlings quickly.
Or we get bone dry/rock hard/slimy wet just by taking our eye off stuff!
It's all part & parcel of learning and I love it!
Yep even the frustrations
Happy growing NRFTW

[NoPeasForTheWicked]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Lettuce and radish now on the compost heap and leeks in the cold frame along with newly planted lettuce and radish seeds (and a few peas).

You can only get so much information from a book I guess - true knowledge comes from getting the dirt under your fingernails!

[chefgage]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Lettuce and radish now on the compost heap and leeks in the cold frame along with newly planted lettuce and radish seeds (and a few peas).

You can only get so much information from a book I guess - true knowledge comes from getting the dirt under your fingernails!

i only started growing fruit and veg three years ago. before i started i read and read on the subject.
it was only when i actually started that i realised how little i knew even with all the reading
i was suprised how much i learnt by just trying different things. at the end of the day (apart from it being dark ) if some plants dont do well you havent lost much