leggy seedlings

[only small]

My kitchen currently looks like a greenhouse with the amount of seeds going merrily away, However, most of them seem to be very leggy, especially PSB, calabrese, red cabbage and lettuce. They are all about 4 inches high with a couple of small leaves at the top.
Has it all gone very wrong or are they supposed to look like this?
I was wondering if it has something to do with too much light?
Please help as I am considering throwing them on the compost heap and starting again. ???

[only small]

[Roy Bham UK]

I would have thought it was too little light as seed potatoes go leggy in the dark and short ‘n’ green in the light. ;D

Perhaps someone with a little more expertise will come along and shed a little more light on it. ;D

[amphibian]

If it isn't an absense of light then it is likely to be too much heat.

[sarah]

I think amphibian may be right, i made the same mistake with my brassicas and was told by others here that they were too warm and would be better in the greenhouse so i turfed them all out onto my sheltered balcony were they have fared much better.

[Tee Gee]

Probably a bit of both!!!

A tip for the future based on what I was taught;

If it says on the packet that you can sow them directly into the ground, (as you can with brassicas and many hardy annuals)

Then use this as a 'rule of thumb';  after germination get them outdoors on frost free days, and just fetch them in if frost is forecast.

In this way they will grow into much hardier & stocky plants.

[only small]

Thanks for your replies.
I think I will be starting again :'(

[OliveOil]

Ahhh and i thought it was just me!

My cucumbers, brocolli, cabbage are all very leggy!  All in my kitchen which isnt all that warm but gets the morning sun.

Please say there is some hope!

[Robert_Brenchley]

Broccoli and cabbage don't need to be inside at all, except possibly if you're germinating them in the dead of winter. I do mine under cloches. Cucumbers should be out in cold frames or whatever by this time; they will germinate in them this time of year.

[OliveOil]

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!!!!!!!

Put everything outside and put a gate up to keep the chooks out... went back later and the cucumbers, sunflowers, borage have all been anhialated!

Anyone got any good chicken recipes - I'm very annoyed!

[lorna]

OH Dear!! Have a look at Tim's post in recipes ;D

[Rosyred]

All my brassicas have been leggy , red cabbage, 2 other types of cabbage, psb, brussell sprouts but as it was my first go I would not start again. I repotted them planting right upto first true leaves and that helped and the ones out on the allotment look good now. Don't worry Only small yours will comes out good.

[only small]

You have given me hope, something that was in very short supply!
I shall get them into open ground asap, once the rain has stopped and given me a bit of a chance to get down to the lottie! Drat the wet stuff. I wish it would only rain when I am at work or asleep! Then I think I wouldn't get so frustrated!! ::)