Sorry, But It’s Time to Toss Those Leggy Seedlings – Unless They’re One of These 6 Plants
Some leggy seedlings are doomed. But there are certain types of plants you can still save, even if they had a weak start. Here are the 6 you should never toss.
Legginess in a seedling, or any plant for that matter, is something gardeners strive to avoid. A leggy seedling is prone to weak growth, disease, and failure when transplanted outdoors.
Despite your best efforts, you might end up with some leggy seedlings. It happens to every gardener at some point. But you don’t necessarily need to toss these less-than-perfect starts. Many leggy seedlings can’t be saved, but there are a few types of plants that can survive after transplanting with a bit of special care.
When starting seeds indoors, it’s a common practice to get rid of leggy seedlings because it is often assumed they won’t survive outdoors. However, you shouldn’t give up hope for certain plants. For certain types of plants, legginess isn’t a death sentence. Here are the 6 types of leggy seedlings you should always give a second chance.
Why Leggy Seedlings Are Bad
A leggy plant is one that has grown too tall so that its stems are thin and weak. A mature plant can become leggy if light is limited or if you haven’t pruned it properly. Pruning encourages lateral growth that allows a plant to develop sturdier stems and denser overall growth.
Seedlings that become leggy grow tall, thin, and weak on their single stems. Legginess is particularly bad in seedlings because they are just getting started in life. They need strong, stout stems to survive and thrive.
If you transplant a leggy seeding outside, it will struggle to stay upright, especially under the forces of wind and rain. Even if the weather is fine, they might not grow strong and straight. And, if they do flop over, they become more vulnerable to common garden diseases and pests.
How to Avoid Leggy Seedlings
The main cause of legginess in seedlings is inadequate light. As seedlings grow, they seek out light. If there isn’t enough, they will grow taller in order to find it. By growing in height, they sacrifice width and become too tall, too thin, and too weak to support themselves properly.
You can prevent legginess by ensuring your seedlings have enough light. If placed near a sunny window, rotate seed trays so all seedlings get equal access to light.
If your windows don’t provide adequate light, use a grow light. A light positioned just a few inches above the seedlings will encourage shorter, stouter growth. This simple LED grow light from Amazon is a great choice for beginners and budget-conscious gardeners.
Tools to Prevent Leggy Seedlings
This basic LED grow light on a stand makes starting strong seedlings easy.
Control the temperature of this heating mat to prevent seedlings getting too warm and becoming leggy.
Strong seedlings start with a high-quality potting mix, like this one from Miracle-Gro.
Types of Leggy Seedlings You Can Save
If you can tell that your seedlings are starting to grow too leggy, you can potentially save them by adding more light.
Another strategy is to "pet" your seedlings. Brush your fingers over the seedlings or place a gentle fan near them a few times a day. This mimics the force of wind they experience outside and can stimulate better growth.
If it’s too late and your seedlings are tall, leggy, and beyond correction, you still might be able to use them outside. These are the types of plants that can overcome legginess and thrive outdoors with the right care.
1. Tomatoes, Peppers & Eggplants
Nightshade plants, which includes tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, are among the most forgiving when it comes to legginess.
Before tossing those skinny seedlings, try transplanting seedlings deeper into the soil than you normally would. Bury some of the leggy stems and roots will sprout from them, giving you a sturdy, strong plant.
What these plants won’t tolerate is cold, so be careful to only transplant outdoors when night temperatures are consistently 50°F (10°C) and higher. The soil should be 60°F (15°C) and warmer.
2. Brassicas
Your brassicas – broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale – are not as forgiving as nightshades, but they are sturdier than other veggies.
They won’t root along their stems, but if you plant them a little deeper than is typical, they will be more stable and might survive outside conditions. Don’t bury them too deep, though. Just give them enough extra depth to be stable and to prevent flopping.
3. Leeks & Onions
Leggy leeks and onions can tolerate being buried a little deeper than normal when transplanting seedlings outdoors. You can also trim the tops of the seedlings a little bit to make them sturdier and to prevent floppiness.
As a bonus, burying leeks and green onions a little deeper will encourage more white growth, which is the edible part of the plant anyways.
4. Peas & Other Vines
As a vining plant, peas can recover from some legginess as they naturally grow long stems. The natural climbing nature of the vines will encourage upward growth.
Plant the seedlings a little deeper and install a climbing support, like a trellis, right away to ensure the growing vines have something to grab.
Other vines can also be planted this way, but they may not survive as well as peas. For example, cucumbers have hollow, delicate stems that are more prone to rot.
5. Basil
This delicate herb can easily become leggy if not grown with enough light or if overcrowded. Basil may recover from legginess if you can plant it in a protected area where flopping will be less likely.
As the basil grows, pinch back stems regularly to encourage bushier, stronger growth.
6. Marigolds
Marigolds are gorgeous annual flowers that are easy to grow from seed. If the seedlings get leggy, you should still be able to save them.
Marigolds are tougher and more adaptable than many other plants, so just bury the stems a little deeper to provide some support. They don’t rot easily, so they should recover and grow strong and busy with targeted pinching.
