Have these seedlings had it?

[IndigoElectron]

I sowed these seeds a few weeks ago (maybe 3 weeks?) and they've been on an east facing windowsill. There was a propagator lid on at first, which I took off when they germinated.



Am I right in thinking they didn't get enough light? They look pretty leggy to me and some of them have fallen over, and one of the stems has broken. The ones that have fallen over are broccoli and cauliflower, the others are onions, leeks and chives.

Can any of them be saved?

If not, assuming I need to start again, am I okay to just sow the seeds directly in the garden?

Thanks.

[Scarlet]

Yes, they've had it. They've been kept too warm with not enough light.
You can sow in modules but somewhere cooler, porch?

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks Scarlet, I thought as much. That's yet another lesson learned from my first proper year of gardening! Someone on here said 'first year feeds the mind, second year feeds the stomach' and I can see why they said it

I don't have a porch or a conservatory, only windowsills - is it possible to sow them directly into the ground?

[RaptorUK]

I don't have a porch or a conservatory, only windowsills - is it possible to sow them directly into the ground?

For Brassicas and Alliums - yes.

[IndigoElectron]

Great! Thanks

[Scarlet]

Yes, as raptor said you can sow them straight into the ground but I find that if you first sow in modules you will have a strong healthy plant to go out later that has a better chance of surviving the slugs. Perhaps you could put your trays outside somewhere sheltered?

[Scarlet]

..change of subject but just wondering raptor with a name like that do you keep birds of prey?

[IndigoElectron]

I have a 'blowaway' plastic greenhouse, but won't they get too hot in there?

[Scarlet]

I wouldn't have thought so, certainly not over the next few weeks. I sow mine in the greenhouse and they pot them on into bigger pots until I'm ready to plant out.

[rustylady]

I have a 'blowaway' plastic greenhouse, but won't they get too hot in there?

Not if you open the doorway for ventilation.

[RaptorUK]

..change of subject but just wondering raptor with a name like that do you keep birds of prey?

no, but would love to . . . but don't have the space or time at the moment.

[ancee]

It's freezing here today - no glimmer of the weather being 'too hot' for anything

[Kristen]

The Brassicas won't recover.

I expect the Leeks will be fine (but they need to moved to good light).

Can't tell which the Onions are, but they are too late so even if they look as good as the Leeks they won't make Onion bulbs. Important to sow them on time as they Bulb-up based on day length, so they cannot catch-up if you sow them late . You could still, just, get away with planting out some Onion Sets (if you want to have a go at an Onion crop this season)

[Two_Sheds]

I sowed these seeds ... on an east facing windowsill.

although it's bright in the morning, an east window doesn't offer enough light. These plants were sown on the same day:

[IndigoElectron]

Thank you everyone, and sorry for the very slow reply!

I've put the seedlings in the blowaway now - I think I might be able to rescue the chives. I've sowed leek seeds straight in the garden, not got round to doing the brassicas again but must get on with it this week!

I'm quite impressed with the blowaway, the plants seem happy enough and it hasn't blown away despite strong winds :-)