Slow growing salad leaves

[Gertrude's Ghost]

I sowed some seed of various salad leaves, lamb's lettuce, etc in a large polystyrene box which arrived with some smoked fish. The seeds went in in April and were very slow to germinate because of the cold weather. Eventually there was a good rate of germination but the seedlings are not growing very well, most of them being under an inch high but the odd few slightly taller (and lankier). Is this normal, or is it the weather being so cold?

[rustylady]

What compost did you use?

[veggiechicken]

Are they indoors or outside?
Is there adequate drainage through the polystyrene?

[Gertrude's Ghost]

What compost did you use?

Just general purpose compost that I had in.

[Gertrude's Ghost]

Are they indoors or outside?
Is there adequate drainage through the polystyrene?

Yes, I made several holes in the bottom. They are outdoors.

[Ananke]

The lettuce I sowed in April is the same, it seemed to stall for a while and it's only taking off now. The seeds I sowed just over a week ago are coming up thick and fast, I think it's probably the temperature.

[Gertrude's Ghost]

I've pulled out the lanky seedlings - they had flowers on! and I think maybe the rest need thinning out.

[Gertrude's Ghost]

They never did come to anything - most less than 1 cm high today, so knocked out. May start again.