Weak lettuce seedlings

[Digitalis]

My icebergs are very floppy. I've looked at many pictures online of lettuce seedlings, but mine are tall, and keep falling over.

I water them daily, keep them in a warm and light area.

Is this normal? They can hardly stand up.

[Digitalis]

[Tee Gee]

I water them daily, keep them in a warm and light area.

I would say this is the problem i.e. too much water & heat

I water my transplants about once a week and they are in a cool greenhouse with no heating and they are fine!

These are what mine looked like last year at the end of April. This year lots look like they are going to be of a similar size come that time this year.

[Digitalis]

Can my spindly ones be salvaged?

[Tee Gee]

A picture would help plus what type of container are they in at the moment.

It might just be a case of leaving them as they are, and toughening them up a bit. i.e. less heat & water!

[Digitalis]

I'll get a picture up for tomorrow.

I've now moved them to a cooler place, but the soil looks and feels very dry.

They are in the container that came with the kit.

[saddad]

If the surface is dry try scratching it a little and stand the trays in water for 1/2 an hour then let them drain... often the compost surface becomes compacted...
:-\

[Digitalis]

Here are the pics as promised:



They are in a mini propagator set bought from PoundLand. Should I leave the lid off?

Any good keeping them?

[manicscousers]

don't look too bad to me, what sort are they?
I'd leave the lid off and transplant them into individual pots, ours are now on shelves outside the shed, hardening off  :)

[Digitalis]

They are icebergs.

Are they not too fragile to move?

[telboy]

Soak 'em in a tray of water with a few drops of liquid feed until the compost looks wet.
Leave the top off now, they look like they are suffering from Poundland starvation

[Tee Gee]

I agree 100% with manic;

don't look too bad to me, what sort are they?
I'd leave the lid off and transplant them into individual pots, ours are now on shelves outside the shed, hardening off

[cbags]

I'm so glad I found this forum- I've been searching for help for half an hour! 

I'm growing four seasons loose leaf lettuce in a window box.  One leaf will point straight up for one day but it falls over completely the next day.  Most of the plants are literally laying on the soil.  I planted them on March 8.  There doesn't seem to be any evidence of rot or mold; it seems the stem just isn't strong.  I haven't moved them outside yet - we had snow yesterday and it's still too cold.  Is there anything I can do to help my poor lettuce leaves? 

[PurpleHeather]

I pot up seedlings very early. Smaller than those in the picture.

The trick is to avoid handling the stems.

I do a balancing job with a lolly stick sized marker, you can touch the little leaves carefully, even slightly damaged they often survive.

Practise, practise, don't be afraid of them. More plants are lost by over caution and care than by neglect.

You probably will loose a few,  you just sow more seeds. No problem. It is not first degree murder.

[saddad]

Welcome to the site cbags...  :)

[tonybloke]

hello to cbags!, welcome aboard ;)

[cbags]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

I'll keep you updated on the lettuce.  I think maybe it's just because we haven't had much sun lately.  (Or at least that's what I'm hoping.)