Seedlings Leggy / Reaching for light

[Jonny.D]

Hi Guys,
My tomatoes have all germinated and are currently in a heated propagator though they have gotten tall and leggy and are reaching for the light from the nearby window which is around 2ft away.

I believe they need more light and my question is can they be taken out of the propagator or will they need some kind of acclimatizing?

I also have the same problem with the Brassicas, though these are now on a windowsill.

Will they be OK once they start receiving more light?

Thanks - JD

Tomatoes


Brassicas

[Kristen]

Far too leggy to recover IMO. I reckon you need to start again with the ones that have already germinated, sorry.

The moment they germinate they need strong light. A windowsill is nothing like as good (quality light) as a greenhouse, so anything less than that (plants in the room, rather than on the windowsill, for example) reduces the light further.

I keep the transparent lids on mine for a couple of days after germination, and open the little vents so they get acclimatised, but better light would be more important than acclimatising (if you have no choice) - although if they go from propagator to outside !! they will suffer, propagator to windowsill in a centrally heated house (or probably "any house" at this time of the year) should be fine.

[Jonny.D]

Thanks Kristen, is that advice for the Tomatoes and the Brassicas?

Also on the next lot I sow, when should they be moved out of the propagator and onto a windowsill?

It doesn't fall below 10°F in the living room so will they be OK here?

[veggiechicken]

Brassicas don't need heat to germinate - but they do need light - lots of it.

[Alison]

I do pretty much as Kristen for the toms. For brassicas I never give them any heat. Germinated some sprouts in the cool conservatory. Few seeds in 3" pots, they're about ready to be pricked out now into individual pots at which point they'll be out in the unheated greenhouse to grow on slowly with lots of light. Toms will be inside until May.

[Jonny.D]

Thanks again guys for the advice, another lesson learned

[veggiechicken]

Plenty of time to start again
If you're starting anything off in the heated prop, as soon as you see those little green shoots, move them out and into the light - as good as you can get. Move them off the windowsills at night so that they're not trapped in the cold space between the glass and the curtains. Put them back in the morning. Turn them round daily to even up any stretching to the light, preferably, put them outside undercover so that they have light from above.