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Should I be worried?
seyfades
Posts: 146
in Fruit & veg
i planted my lettuce seeds a couple of weeks ago. In the green tray are loose lettuce leaves, little gem and other head lettuces. I'm not sure if these look healthy or like they are lacking something. I germinated the seeds on my windowsill using the window seed tray they are in. I've had them in a mini pvc greenhouse ( uncovered) I put in my dinning room since then facing the patio door so the sun can reflect in. Do this loook right or are they too leggy?
Also I terminated my aubergine seeds (brown pot) in the airing cupboard, it took about 8 days for the seeds to germinate and I took them out yesterday And placed them on a south facing window. this is my first attempt at vegetable gardening, is this how the seedlings should look?
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I think they're not getting enough light in relation to warmth so growing fast and getting leggy
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thank you nutcutlet, can I still redeem the seedlings, I can take out the pvc cover completely. will this help or should I start again?
Lettuce prefer cooler conditions on the whole. I'd sow more, and not cosset them so much, but you might get something from those. You could use them as a cut and come again crop for a while.
Just get them somewhere in better light, and don't let them get so warm. That's the reason for them being leggy, as nut has said. Is there a reason why you don't have the little growhouse outside? The lettuce would be better out in that when you sow them again. They're not as good as proper greenhouses, for lots of reasons, but they keep the worst of the weather off when plants are small. That's all lettuce usually needs.
I don't grow aubergine, so don't know if they need more warmth. They certainly need better light though. Always a little tricky at this time of year to get the balance right
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Aubergines need to be started indoors and need plenty of heat when potted into their final pots. Last year I grew some from seed, gave my daughter half the seedlings. We both grew them on for a few weeks before moving into large final pots. I put mine outside against a south facing house wall. My daughter grew hers in an unheated greenhouse. I had quite a few flowers but not a single fruit. My daughter's plants were loaded with an excellent crop of aubergines. I can only guess that mine did not enjoy the damp outdoor Cornish climate, needing a dry atmosphere although they need to be kept watered. I used to grow them outside, against a south facing fence where they cropped well, again, it was in the Thames Valley so a dry atmosphere seems to be a must.
Fairygirl - Thank you, I will sow some more lettuce today. The greenhouse is not very rigid and I'm worried the wind will blow it, plus I work full time so I can't keep an eye on it if the weather changes whilst at work. I have taken the PVC off completely now and put them outside, I will start doing that on weekends now.
I guess its time to sow some more.
Joyce Goldenlily - Did you use electric propagator to germinate the aubergine seeds on just windowsill? Also, I am in South East, so I guess I should be ok with growing them outside in a pot. I germinated the current leggy seedlings in 7cm pots wrapped in cling film and I put them in the airing cupboard. I think i may have taken them out too late.
Any advice on how to germinate the seeds properly. Also is aubergine method the same for chillies and tomatoes?