Leggy Seedlings || How to fix leggy seedlings

We all get leggy seedlings sometimes but you can (mostly) fix them! Potting up leggy seedlings into larger pots can really help and by burying them deeply they can develop into strong plants.
Seedlings get leggy when they haven't had enough light, for the most part and it can be a real problem when sowing early with no grow lights! But you can fix things like brassicas and chillies by planting them deep!
In this video i am using
Peat-free Jiffy Pellets:
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9cm Pots:
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Vermiculite:
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Cocktail Sticks:
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Wooden Plant Labels (aka giant lolly sticks!)
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JANUARY IN THE GARDEN
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JESSIE MERYL -
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FURTHER INFOMATION:
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VLOGGING KIT:
I’m really keen for everyone to get vlogging their gardens, its been a really great experience for me and the more the merrier!
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[@plaidpie]

Awww, such a sweet video, my leggy seedlings want to move from Colorado and move in with you. We've had discussions about why that is unfeasible, but so far, they are ignoring me and demanding I subscribe to your channel. I find the radishes are quite fervent about becoming anglophiles, while the peppers are on the fence.Listening to Das Capital on tape had a bigger impact than I anticipated,. I can't take the chanting of "Whose stems? Our stems!" any longer. Management is giving into demands and we will keep watching your channel.

[@canleyjenkins2104]

😂

[@gingerontheplot8165]

I deep potted all my chillis too from jiffy pellets but I cut all the bags off as I just didn't trust them to not constrict the roots ,,great channel have learned alot thanks atb mike

[@stuarthaslam2908]

I'm using jiffys for the first time this year too. I also ended up labelling with cocktail sticks, but I wrapped a little bit of masking tape around the top of each stick (like a flag) and wrote the name on that.

[@debbiespitznagel1472]

I learned something new today from you. I know tomatoes can be planted up to the lower leaves, but didn't know that it could be done with peppers and brassicas. I particularly like your ID method for the small pelleted seed starters. Brilliant idea to paint them and tuck them in! Today, I will get my peas and sugar snap peas ready for planting. What I tried last year was starting the seeds indoors by putting them between wet paper towels (kitchen paper?) and put them inside of a ziploc bag to germinate. Once germinated, I will plant out in the garden. It gives them a bit of a head start and I easily see what is viable and what didn't germinate. Have a wonderful weekend, best of luck in finding a bike today, and glad you are returning to in-person work again. Thank you for these videos you make for us all to enjoy and learn by.

[@tamararoberts9307]

I find myself hitting the like button as soon as your videos starts because I've been loving every one

[@JessieatPlot37]

:D thanks Tamara! :D

[@ianbrown5486]

I agree yousoothing voice makes me relax so I do listen to youwell done jessie

[@robbo7765]

Cracking advice 👍. Got seedlings 🌱 everywhere at the moment and are looking rather thin and long. Thanks for sharing. Robbo

[@JessieatPlot37]

Seedlings Seedlings everywhere! I know the feeling!

[@debbiecarne1927]

Thanks for getting me potting on. Nice to get reassurance about planting deep. Good luck tomorrow at work.

[@JessieatPlot37]

Thank you!

[@debbiecarne1927]

@@JessieatPlot37 really appreciate all your videos - your totally inspiring

[@carlsmith7240]

Absolutely love your vlogs, such easy listening and learning. Keep going Jessie. Top job x

[@JessieatPlot37]

Thanks so much Carl! 😊

[@uncleraymond3833]

Just watched another great video Jessie with my wife. We are hoping to get into the double digits by Tuesday. Have you tried looking on Free cycle in your area for a bike. My wife did remind me tell you to always wear a helmet no matter what everyone else is doing. Bubble wrap between your seedlings and windows should protect from drafts.

[@ninad5692]

Ditto on the bike helmet Jessie! Also there's a plastic film you can apply with a hairdryer, quite good for draughty Victorian windows (ask me how I know🥶).

[@stevenwyskochil1213]

This is the video I needed right now. Thank you, Jessie! Love the lobster pants.

[@weirdheathersgarden]

Enjoy being back at work again. It’s so nice to have a sense of normality back again 😊

[@JessieatPlot37]

It really is! :D

[@biblegachasstories5005]

Spot on about seedlings on the window ledge. I laughed out loud. Got two nearly three window ledges full

[@victoriatorring847]

Brilliant videos Jessie, very informative and you're a natural in front of the camera too.

[@rebeccahenderson9599]

Jessie, loved this video and subscribed. I was looking for seedling repair videos to convince a friend I wasn't telling her a load of crap!! You totally confirmed what I told her!! Thanks!! Your beautiful blue eyes are mesmerizing!! 💙

[@melissab8500]

No matter how much I think I know there's always something new. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I think you just saved some of my seedlings!

[@oliverpierre22]

Really great timing for me! I've been shocked by the speed (one week!) at which my windowsill seedlings have become leggy! Thank you. 😊 Also, was listening to an interesting Sarah Raven podcast yesterday and she mentioned that she takes the netting off her jiffy pellets when transplanting. She did a little trial and the ones she took the netting off seem to do better. 🤗

[@myrustygarden]

Morning yes leggy seedlings are not like fashion models you don’t want the seedlings to have great legs 😂😂😂. Nice to know everyone has been doing this and yes potting on will be my weekend chore. 🐝 safe and stay gardening 🇨🇦✌️🧑‍🌾🥬🥕💐

[@tonyforrest2724]

Great. Idea of cocktail sticks.. Good. Luck. Finding. A. Bicycle.. As ever informative and. Well. Delivered

[@JessieatPlot37]

Thanks Tony!

[@thedorkasaur]

Love love love the cocktail stick idea! Ive been wedging lolly sticks into the pellets and it's not been easy!

[@JessieatPlot37]

:D

[@prospero4183]

Man, I started watching later last year when the channel had 2.5k subs now its 6.7k, love watching it grow. Great channel

[@gulitt1220]

Great video once again😊 I always direct sow my beans and never failed.. they always catch up super fast

[@JessieatPlot37]

Yeah, they grow like rocket don't they! Sometimes i direct sow if i can hold myself back long enough.... lol

[@ericsafran6108]

Those little paper pots are TOO CUTE!

[@UrbanWhiteBuffaloFarm]

Hello love super video. The early season troubles for folks to fix and become more confident. Thank you so much good on you love.

[@chrisfrancis7925]

Thanks it's my 1st year I had some plants on windowsill and did not why they were long and floppy won't be so eager with some plants next year Thanks for the help 🌱

[@micksbackyardaquaponics1408]

That was amazing video clip you put together there off your seedlings an it was great to see how you do it there an keep up the great work there 👍👍

[@JessieatPlot37]

Thanks Mick!

[@annaking9213]

Your a great teacher. 👍🏻👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@toffeeswirl77]

I so needed this! Planted some seed over the weekend, been cloudy since, and no lighting system. Was worried about leggy seedings.

[@paoulohugos6452]

I have lots of leggy stuff growing! Thanks for the tips on what should be done. Nice one Jessie 😎👍

[@grantwhite7337]

What a great idea for the colour coding! I completely messed up my peppers this season

[@JessieatPlot37]

So difficult to keep track isn't it!!

[@chillpilllibra]

Hey, just got into winter sowing. My cucumber seedlings are leggy. Will be repotting them today. Great video!

[@chrisstanley4405]

Loved the "hang on I'll just come round" found it weirdly amusing. I have potted on my toms and sweet peppers today, I bought myself some grow lights and they have been amazing stopped them going leggy. I would love to get my brassicas on the go but I just don't have space for them atm.

[@melbury7374]

just the video i needed, came at the right time.

[@louisemckelvey]

I've just potted up my second wave of seedlings today. Wow, I actually have no more room 🙈

[@tamararoberts9307]

Same

[@louisemckelvey]

@@tamararoberts9307 I stopped counting at 100. Hopefully plenty of friends and family will take some off me to grow on in their garden/allotments. Its the first year I've really done this well.

[@bluespringsgreenleaves2935]

Had some tomatoes germinate several days earlier than the other varieties. They got a bit leggy bc i didn’t get them under the light in time. Good to know about planting deep when I up pot them to fix it. Thanks! 🌱

[@bluespringsgreenleaves2935]

Also, LOVE the lobster pants. 🦞

[@joanpulley9722]

I like the color coded labels : ) Well done : )

[@JessieatPlot37]

:D

[@nicksveggiepatch1976]

Great video jessie I've done loads of seed sowing today sowed few varieties of seeds and now have them in my polytunnel love your videos looking forward to the next one take care stay safe nicks veggie patch 🙂

[@JessieatPlot37]

:D thanks Nick. I'm at work today but I'm going to be seeds sowing like a daemon tomorrow!

[@nicksveggiepatch1976]

Good luck can I ask if you can would you please subscribe to my channel if you don't mind thanks nick

[@andyducker6208]

Thanks for sharing this. Good luck with a bike.

[@JessieatPlot37]

Thanks Andy!

[@IAMGiftbearer]

I had to do this with lettuce seedlings last night. I was up until 3:30 AM because I couldn't wait any longer. They were bending at a 45 degree angle because the bottom of the stem was skinnier than the top half and some leaves were literally turning upside down.

[@ernestmcdowell3251]

hi jessie love your tips etc hope you enjoyed hong kong was there 10 years ago on my way home from Australia. i have tried them jiffy pots but not too keen on them, have a lot of leggy ones coming out of them so will start repotting as you have done because i was worried i would be repotting too soon, carry on the good work happy school days

[@JessieatPlot37]

Thanks Ernest, yes i loved it. I'd been through HK before but never stayed. It was a great city! The jiffy pots are still on probation with me but i'm learning what does well in them and what doesn't!

[@markfrancis9106]

Glad I saw your video👍got some leggy seedlings, thanks Jessica👍👍

[@rominacreyes]

Hi! So helpful and fun! Will be doing the same today half way around the world- Vancouver Canada !

[@davidthescottishvegan]

Great advice video regards Leggy seedlings Jessie. I haven't sown chillies yet but will do so probably in April after the clock has changed and we get more daylight.

[@biblegachasstories5005]

Will they have enough time to mature before it gets cold again. I had very good plants that I planted last year that had just started to produce peppers around September. Started pepper seeds in January this time around

[@johndeakin4653]

Love your video and tip

[@JessieatPlot37]

Thank you John!

[@tangocat4370]

I cut the white milk jugs into slivers with a pointy end and write in fine marker to make them fit in the jiffy pellets. Works so far.

[@duncanrobinson3200]

I am looking forward to growing some melons this year! They are very small seedlings at the moment (at home). I am growing 'Sweet Granite'. 'Five Desserts' and 'Zatta'.

[@JessieatPlot37]

Oh i love growing Melons! :D

[@duncanrobinson3200]

@@JessieatPlot37 I seem to have 'melons' on the brain for some reason - I can't think why Jessie?

[@MissFlutterGirl]

I’m sorry you lost your aubergines to the draughty window... my cat knocked our aubergines and sweet peppers off our window sill..I managed to salvage some of them them but I’ve no idea which is which 😂😭 Love the idea of the cocktail stick labels!

[@JessieatPlot37]

Thanks Ally - cats, draughts, slugs, greenfly! We are up against it! :D

[@grahamrdyer6322]

Although I had seen your cocktail stick thing before, it didn't register ? Until now ! and that is a great way of labeling and if I may I'm gonna use it on all my seed sowing from now on. It's a pity you live 70 miles north of me as I have a bike you could have (A so called "female bike") (no cross bar) I have got two and I use one for getting around, Oh well. Great vid as usual Jess, Have fun at work.

[@amassing]

I was listening to Sarah Raven talk about Jiffy pellets and she cuts off the outer netting bag because it restricts the root growth. She did a trial against seedlings where the bag was left on and they consistently did worse.

[@duncanrobinson3200]

I sow the cold hardier things in my unheated (cold) allotment greenhouse. I have never had a failure with this method - the greenhouse is lines with horticultural bubble wrap - with the large 'bubbles' - in a polyhouse you can just drape some fleece over the unheated propagator - just a seed gravel tray and a clear plastic lid like the ones Wilko sell. I sow onions from seed in late January to February, also leeks and cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc by this method - obviously not frost tender things like tomatoes. Aluminium foil sellotaped to a piece of cardboard and put behind the tray of seedlings at home on the windowsill helps considerably with leggyness - I have my tomato seedlings at home backed with foil stuck on to the piece of cardboard that come with a newly bought shirt.

[@Broadswordii]

Loved this, first time viewing your channel. I've been watching a James Prigioni (The gardening channel) picked up some great plot building ideas but he lives in New Jersey, particularly tomatoes. Also an American Lady (Lovely Greens) who lives in The Isle of Man, another source of great tips. Nice to have a Brit do simple but informative tips. Q. The Miracle-Gro pot you had compost in, was it just a container or did you buy that product for your seedlings? I've had this issue trying to get various seeds started. Other than being leggy, once re-potted I've lost quite a few trying to harden them up. Most disappointing were my carrot seedlings started on tissue paper then placed in a 12"x12" round container 2" apart. But sadly they have all died trying to harden them. Gutted.

[@wardy89]

you should remove the mesh cases before potting them up, i find they constrain the roots a bit and dont compost.

[@ashleyrobinson7989]

Love the cocktail stick method> Next year you should key your banana chillies in yellow :-)

[@JessieatPlot37]

I know, i was very slap-dash about assigning colours! 😅

[@ashleyrobinson7989]

@@JessieatPlot37 I like slap-dash :-)

[@SamanthaMadison197]

Really useful info, as I’ve got some very leggy seedlings on my windowsill and was wondering if they could be rescued. I have some old root trainers and I think I’ll transplant them into those and move them outside. Thank you!

[@theycallmeskillet5840]

Last year? No last year didn't happen

[@jorgefonseca3208]

Right on time this video Miss LoVster trousers😁😋 But still, my next move will be getting Grow Lights I guess, really don't like to see the poor plants getting this "legged"🙄

[@karlapatin]

Love the painted cocktail stick idea.

[@kirstyprice5536]

This is so helpful thank you, anything that can be done for leggy courgettes? These few lovely days have made mine grow crazily tall.

[@tjitskegrietje]

Great video again Jessie! And good luck with your bike search. :) Can I ask you (or anyone else that wants to answer) what program/app you use to edit your videos? Thinking about doing some more vlogging myself. I've got an Android phone btw.

[@JessieatPlot37]

Thanks TG! Definitely start vlogging, its so much fun! I use Lumafusion to edit. Its not so complicated that you can't find anything or so simple you're limited. I really like it. I film everything on an iphone but the lumafusion isn't linked to apple. :D

[@terrymyers1862]

Great video thx

[@bristolveggiebeds5310]

I need to pot on my peppers!

[@JessieatPlot37]

:D

[@revavra2699]

Can you re-pot leggy flower seedlings, like Cosmos ?

[@stephenrowe1415]

Started some of my chilli seeds off on kitchen roll in zip lock bags five days ago & a few have tiny roots. Propagator's hiding in the loft so covered hot water bottle changed twice a day had to suffice. Lazy sod moi.

[@JessieatPlot37]

Hahahha, if if it works, it works! :D

[@stephenrowe1415]

@@JessieatPlot37 Bizzarly the loft hatch is above the bath! so avoid entry 😃

[@talamh5855]

I've got to start again 😔 my greenhouse heater failed and it got to -3 in my greenhouse everything except a few brassicas went down. But plenty of time left I'm gonna restart them more towards the end of the month

[@moontongng9209]

Jessie, when to going to put them in the polytunnel? I got so many pepper and tomato indoor.

[@JessieatPlot37]

Not until around the end of April! My house is filling up too!

[@FunnySurpriseToys]

Great job my friend! 👌 Keep it up! 👍 365

[@JessieatPlot37]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@FunnySurpriseToys]

@@JessieatPlot37 :)

[@superrams1]

My jiffys didn't break down. Now if I use them, I remove the mesh when i pot on.

[@JessieatPlot37]

Yeah, i have been cutting them off some things. its a fiddly job though isn't it! And it works fine for the larger ones but my small ones completely fell apart!

[@duncanrobinson3200]

Just to add - there is enough heat built up in a cold greenhouse to germinate things like onions and leeks that only need about 10 to 12 degrees.

[@karenslater343]

My peppers/chillis are doing ok but I haven’t got a clue which ones which. Same with some flowers I’ve sewn so I’m going to be surprised later. I bought a garage shelving 5 foot for my south facing lounge I have way too many seedlings growing. Only brassicas and beetroot are leggy I will bury the stems like you’ve done.

[@daisyjones5559]

Yep, I NEEEEEEEEDED this.

[@susanwoods174]

R u using a pencil for ur labels? Will it not disappear with the weather? R u using lolly sticks, I'm intreged, cos I have trouble with labels, and do indelable pens REALLY work? Hope u know all these answers, sorry. I love watching ur vids, and all ur ordinary chat about ur growing, it's really helpful, not all profesh, (don't like that) thankyou🌷

[@chrischen9589]

Did you put potting soil or used seeds starting soil when you re-potting?

[@DiscusRussell]

Why dont you get a a couple of led grow lights they are only cheap and dont use much electric When the sun goes down in the evening turn them on over night. Plants in the veg state love 24/7 light they will bush out very early and you will be so suprised how well they will do as root stock will be amazing Best Regards

[@tassiegirl1991]

Hi Jess. So having both a greenhouse and poly house at your plot is no help to growing your seedlings, having longed for a small one to do just that I purchased an el cheap plastic greenhouse last year which cover shredded in the first strong wind so never made it through winter, I had assumed one would be able to grow seedlings in one?

[@JessieatPlot37]

Hi Avril, i will be kicking my tougher seedlings out after the cold spell thats comin g middle of this week. So things like brassicas, turnips, chard, parsley...etc will go into the greenhouse but chillis, peppers, aubergines, tomatoes, most of the annual flowers its just too cold still. so yeah, my house is full of seedlings until about the end of april/early may every year.

[@fred130556]

Hi Jessie, do you reuse the jiffy pots that didn't germinate with new seeds?

[@JessieatPlot37]

I don't think you're supposed to but i have yeah. seemed to be okay. I used them to germinate some parsley! potted them up very fast though.

[@angelalysandrou4830]

Would this work with sweetcorn and courgette seedlings 🌱

[@lindatruong7458]

Some if my flower seedlings are leggings, can I do this to rescue them?

[@tangocat4370]

Would you direct sow the kohlrabi if there weren’t 🐌?

[@helenhawkins4054]

Helpful 🤗

[@TheJlambe1]

Can you do the same with leggy lettuce?

[@nickhulse643]

Hi jessie which is best to start Swiss chard off in the greenhouse of outside as I've never grown this before

[@paulrobison4698]

Jessie I’m having problems with root growth. Nearly every seedling has poor roots. Any ideas?

[@haram2163]

Strange how we have regional differences in names. You call them tracksuit trousers while up North we call them pyjamas.

[@JessieatPlot37]

Hahahaha

[@MrSBGames]

I got lucky, south facing windows and some cardboard with tinfoil on them behind the seedlings seems to be enough to stop them getting leggy

[@Whistlewalk]

Any time I've used 'loo' rolls, or those little growing pots I've always had to remove the container before potting on as the containers seemed to restrict early root growth, which is not a good thing for a seedling in my opinion. Just sayin'.

[@RaysRailVideos]

Thanks for that, may i also say you are very beautiful, your eyes omg wow

[@shellsmith2268]

Is the Miracle-gro growmore tub, what you're using pls or is it a tub you've got a different mix in?

[@JessieatPlot37]

Hi shell, no that’s just an old bucket. I’m just using a potting compost and vermiculite mix.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

Darnit. Had to watch the vid several times - reason? Your eyes are a bit hypnotic! lol Had to concentrate on your hands, not your eyes. You sure you are not a hypnotist?

[@merlindeg7605]

having this issue with spinach on a window sill, mmmm

[@cw2126]

👍👍👍

[@robsallotmentchannel9942]

Jiffy Pellets are a waste of time unless you are a commercial grower and sending them out in the post. Best thing to do with them if you are using them is to cut the bag off and gently disturb the coir around the roots to allow stronger root mass. The bags will take about 3 years to decompose in your compost bin. Best thing to do now is start to feed them with Chilli Focus from underneath, you will be surprised how quick the roots will grow. I have a total of around 700 seedlings growing at the minute including over 80 chilli / pepper plants under lights. Chillies also need heat to grow strong, mine are set at 20 degree C and the lights are on for 16 hours a day. And it is best to pot chillies on into small pots as they do like to be restricted, I pot mine on three times before there final potting in greenhouse.

[@domsterish]

Just wish I could marry her. The accent the style the confidence intelligence…man I wish I was in englad

[@unsufletpribeag]

❤

[@michaeldemetriou3043]

🙂👍

[@jones7454]

Hello......

[@olig.h.orarsson8147]

M

[@nickkingston8929]

Lovely eyes