Did I plant too early?

[haza1981]

Hi Guys,

2 weeks ago I panicked and sowed lots of stuff indoors and put them on the windowsil. Now everthing is so leggy its flopped down. Did I start too early? Shoudl I start again

Planted tomato seeds, chilli seeds, khol rabi, beans(which are doing ok) squash, and various other things which I cannot think of right now. All the packets said to plant then.

[Mikey]

Hi Guys,

2 weeks ago I panicked and sowed lots of stuff indoors and put them on the windowsil. Now everthing is so leggy its flopped down. Did I start too early? Shoudl I start again

Planted tomato seeds, chilli seeds, khol rabi, beans(which are doing ok) squash, and various other things which I cannot think of right now. All the packets said to plant then.

Is it just the case that they are thirsty as we have had some very warm weather over the last week. Try taking them outside during the day, and back in at night, to harden them up a little. (make their stems stronger)

[Flummery]

They really won't get wnough light on the windowsill. It's not just warmth they need. Without enough daylight they will become leggy and drawn. If you can take them into a cold greenhouse or even outdoors in the day it will help - remember though, that they won't acrively grow below 10 degrees.

[Kristen]

Beans:

probably too early (depends what type of beans - board beans would be OK, Runner Beans = too early, they'll be huge by the time you can plant them out after last frost)

[Shadylane]

I would think squash are too early as well. Trouble with following the packet advice is that those dates are generally aimed at the parts for the country with the longest growing season ie the south, or people with perfect growing conditions and give you the very earliest dates you can start. If you live further north then you have to add a few weeks on, unless you have sunny windowsills and don't mind faffing about taking plants in and out. If you make a note of things you'll know for next year what you can sneak in early and what seeds you really have to hold fire with.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Don't know about the rest but the toms can be repotted in to large pots planting them deep. The stem under the compost will throw fresh roots and make a stronger plant.

Colin

[Kristen]

Don't know about the rest ...

In general all seedlings can be potted-on up to their seed leaves. I can't think of any Dicot (the sort with two seed leaves, rather than one [Onions etc]) vegetable that minds.

I'm always bit wary with things like Cucumbers that hate to have their stems damp, but even they seem fine - Cucumbers throw up an inch or two of stem from the seed even with perfect light! and when they aren't leggy, so they tend to need some burying anyway.

[Two_Sheds]

All the packets said to plant then.

The packets will give a range of dates for sowing, eg Jan-March

The early date is for people with perfect conditions, ie light and warmth
Where are you?

[haza1981]

I'm in sunny Newcastle,

Somebody told me I was already too late for planting my Tom's and chillis so I panicked. If it was too early I dont mind putting them on the compost heap and starting again later

[womble]

Your tomatoes and chillies are fine, just pot them on if needed and give them some space. Pot them to the seed leaves as suggested.

The others may get too big and leggy before you can put them out.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm in sunny Newcastle

If you put that in your profile, we won't keep asking you

I panicked and sowed ... khol rabi, beans(which are doing ok) squash, and various other things

Khol rabi is hardy and shouldn't be indoors.

What kind of beans?

Squash ... you're a bit premature, sow again in April

Various Other Things ... dunno

[Snadger]

I'm in sunny Newcastle,

Somebody told me I was already too late for planting my Tom's and chillis so I panicked. If it was too early I dont mind putting them on the compost heap and starting again later

The 'somebody' was probably me! I still think that toms and especially chillies should be given an early start with a little heat and plenty of light if they are to be planted in a cold greenhouse in North East England!
Your problem isn't that you sowed these too early, it's that you didn't give them enough light methinks. A Geoff Hamilton 'light box' coated in tinfoil and placed on the windowsill is a handy bit of apparatus at this time of year!

[haza1981]

The 'somebody' was probably me! I still think that toms and especially chillies should be given an early start with a little heat and plenty of light if they are to be planted in a cold greenhouse in North East England!
Your problem isn't that you sowed these too early, it's that you didn't give them enough light methinks. A Geoff Hamilton 'light box' coated in tinfoil and placed on the windowsill is a handy bit of apparatus at this time of year!

It was indeed yourself. Not many of the house plants have done well. Gonna have a potting day today and also gives me an excuse to goto Tom and Joes to get a few different plants.