help with transplanting lettuce seedlings

[antipodes]

Hello,
I started off a tray of lettuce seedlings about 3 or 4 weeks ago in my pantry which is cool and which has a window, they are now quite tall and are starting to get "true" leaves. I feel like I now need to separate them out, is this correct? I guess I have about a dozen. How do I thin these out, and how much do I need to bury the spindly stem that they currently have? Do I put it in up to close to the leaves? They seem too tall to me and are starting to flop about.  :-\
Do tomato seedlings get the same treatment? Mine look similar to the lettuce.
Please help!
Adrienne

[antipodes]

[Tee Gee]

There are a few pictures here; http://tinyurl.com/2z32f8

click on the pictures to enlarge.

OK the examples are brassicas but the same principle can be applied to most seedlings.

[antipodes]

pppfff he's done it again!! He's always got the spot on advice! You must have some lovely veg at your place, Tee Gee :-)
Thanks for that, I will have to get to work with some more compost and some punnet pots tonight. It is sometimes hard to believe that these spindly little shoots will grow into a massive tomato vine or a full-headed Batavia lettuce!!
If you are interested in seeing my somewhat newcomer efforts, I do have a blog, but don't look if you are an anti-carpet on lottie campaigner, as I have got a bit of it blocking out my weeds  ;D
http://roos-and-camembert.blogspot.com/
I should have some new piccies up next week. I am in Western France where the climate is pretty mild, but like the UK we are expecting a cold snap next week. ( I shall take your advice and leave off the seed sowing till next weekend!!!)
Cheers,
Adrienne

[tim]

I don't know why I should continue to be amazed by your wealth of knowledge, TeeGee.

And your clarity of mind!!

[Marymary]

I don't know why I should continue to be amazed by your wealth of knowledge, TeeGee.

And your clarity of mind!!

And his ICT skills.  :)