Mixed lettuce leaves, stems too tall?

[Alison_Kristina]

It's just a packet of mixed pick and come again lettuce seeds. I've never grown them before so don't know if the stems are supposed to do this or not:



(photo taken today, two weeks since planting). As you can see, the stems are not strong enough to support the leaves, so the stems have bent down onto the compost.

Also, when I plant them on do I bury them up to the top of the stem?

Ps. I'm thinking of replanting them in the same window tray when I thin/plant them on. The big leaves will get eaten so the plants are not going to grow too big. It's 5cms deep, is that enough?

Thanks,
Ali.

[johnmichael]

Need to be put outside and protected at night from any frost,the window sill growing has caused plants to grow tall and spindly.

[Alison_Kristina]

Oh. Mmm. . . Unfortunately I don't think that's an option. Although I've not had 'the chat' with my snaily friends yet, asking them not to eat the lettuce leaves is probably a step too far.

At least you've answered my question, thanks, the stems are too long. So I think when I replant I'll bury the excess stems.

Ali.

[colin1957]

If growing out side is not an option then you may have a problem as growing on the window sill they will not get equal light all round and will grow to the light and still become leggy.
Have you thought of getting a cold frame although you wont get many in there, but once the chance of frost has past you should be ok for a few pots of them.
The tray in the picture i would think is far two shallow to grow them on with so i think you would be better off with a trough and when you replant them do so up to the seed leafs.

[Alison_Kristina]

Ok, thanks Colin. I turn the tray every day anyway.

Doh! outside under cover, I never thought of that. When I repot them I'll pot half in the existing tray and the other half I'll put in the Culti Cave Plastic Greenhouse. When it arrives . . .

Ali.

[colin1957]

Yes give that a go , you could also replant them in a grow bag if you can fit one in your greenhouse and also add some feed like growmore or chicken manure pellets. Plant them well appart to give them room as they grow or they will not develope very well say six inch or so.

Just had a look at the Cave Plastic Greenhouse, looks ok to me and looks like you will be able to get quite a few things in there.