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weedy basil (and other types of) seedling advice

REMF33REMF33 Posts: 731
in Problem solving

I have been growing quite a lot of things from seed this year (not something I have done much before), starting them off in a heated propagator. with growlights above them.  A lot of my seedlings have shot up with long thing stems, leaves appearing quite high up, resulting in plants that are not always able to remain straight. Am I right in thinking this is probably too much heat?

I have just pricked out a lot of basil seedlings with this problem.  When I pot them on, can I plant them further down in the compost, or is this likely to rot the stems?


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  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I used to separate basil plants individually like that but have since changed to growing them several to a pot and am getting much better crops.  They support each other when grown that way.  Yours do look 'etiolated' though and I think you've kept them too warm as you suggest.  I only keep seeds in the propagator until they have germinated, at which point they are grown on in cooler conditions with as much daylight as possible.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I sow basil in 3 inch pots - reasonably generously,  then just split them [about three clumps]  and pot on. I don't prick them out.
    I don't sow until it's warm enough for them to germinate on a windowsill. Usually about May here.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 731
    Thanks. I have had them in the house too. I think they need to be in the unheated, glass roofed lean to from the start, as soon as they've germinated. (Although it can get hot in there, and sometimes we get flies... and obviously not heating on in the house now.)
    I guess I could pot them on together when they've established in these pots. I am struggling with basil generally. I grew a lot of more bog standard stuff earlier in the year and it's getting a bit scruffy now, withthe leaves being a little tough. 
  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 731
    p.s I guess I could nip out the growing shot of the tall one on the right in the first picture?
    Should I avoid planting on with the stems in the compost?
  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 731
    p.p.s would you persevere with these ones at all, or start again?!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You could nip the tops out, and also plant a wee bit deeper. Probably worth sowing more though. It'll germinate quickly. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 731
    Thanks. Will do. It would be useful to get it right this year so I know what to do in the future.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think if you want to use heat to have earlier plants, it's worth taking note of @BobTheGardener advice re growing on too.
    Not something I ever use, but the problem with too much heat is the etiolation after they start into growth. Basil needs enough warmth, so it would be down to timing once they germinated in a heated propagator. Enough warmth to grow successfully on a windowsill, but you could then pinch out to get them a bit bushier and less straggly.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    As @Fairygirl says, do keep pinching them to make them bush out.  Keep an eye out for flowers forming and pinch those off or they will stop growing - particularly important with Lemon basil which I find tries to flower very quickly compared to other types (delicious, too!) :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 731
    I have been pinching out flowers on my older plants. Leaving them though on thyme as the bees love them so much.
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