Pepper seedlings are stretching: what to do, how to improve the health of stretched sprouts. What to do if, when growing from seeds at home, sweet pepper seedlings become very elongated? Why and proper care to prevent pepper seedlings from stretching upward

There is nothing complicated about sowing pepper seedlings. The seeds hatch within 14-20 days, and this is where the problems begin. The seedlings begin to thin out and the pepper seedlings stretch out.

Before answering the question, what should I do? The possible reasons for this phenomenon should be clarified.

Why are pepper seedlings stretched out?

For full development, seedlings require:

• Lighting;
• Moisture;
• Comfortable temperature conditions;
• Timely feeding.

Perhaps some point is not observed so carefully when growing and caring for young sprouts and the pepper seedlings are stretched.

Lighting

The plant's main need is sunlight. At the end of winter, when the sun still rarely peeks into the windows, many gardeners' pepper seeds have already sprouted happily. They are often sown so often that the leaves of the seedlings are pressed tightly against each other and are not able to absorb the required amount of ultraviolet radiation.

The most common mistakes that lead to pepper seedlings stretching:

Warning! Some varieties of pepper (thick-walled, late-ripening) cannot be grown without shelves equipped with lighting, since they have a long growing season. They should be sown already in the first half of February.

Hydration

Often gardeners themselves become the culprits when pepper seedlings stretch out. Excessive watering is harmful to young shoots. Damp soil does not allow oxygen to pass through to the root system, plants strive to make up for the lack of air from the environment and pepper seedlings stretch out, expending the strength required for the development of roots.

After the sprouts appear, the seedlings are not watered for several days; if the soil is too dry, it should be sprayed with a spray bottle.

Temperature

Constantly warm air temperatures during the day and night make pepper seedlings capricious. In order for the seedlings to grow strong and strong, you need to ensure a daytime temperature within 24-26 degrees, and a nighttime temperature of 18-20 degrees. Coolness at night hardens the pepper and prevents it from stretching.

A significant increase in air temperature slows down the development of the root system. Nutrients do not enter the plant stem and the pepper seedlings are stretched.

But too low a temperature can have a detrimental effect on pepper. The critical low point is +13 degrees. At +12.5, pepper leaves may turn yellow, die and die.

The same trouble can happen when the soil in a container cools down and the window sill is poorly heated. To prevent root rotting, it is necessary to lay thermal insulation material (foam plastic) between the cool window sill and the planting box.

Ideally, the temperature should match the light intensity. On a clear, sunny day, the temperature can be raised to 25 degrees, in rainy and cloudy weather - lowered by 2-3 degrees, and at night lowered to acceptable values.

Top dressing

Both purchased and independently prepared soil according to all the rules contains all the necessary substances for the initial development of pepper. You should not fertilize it immediately after sprouts appear. Excess nitrogen fertilizer will inevitably lead to overgrowth. The first time fertilizers are applied 12-16 days after picking (non-germinating) seedlings. It is recommended to combine complex fertilizers with growth stimulants (Epin) and give preference to foliar rather than root feeding.

If there is a lack of sunlight, experienced gardeners advise spraying the plants with Ferovit every week.

Warning! It is better to under-fertilize seedlings than to over-fertilize them. Excess of nutrients negatively affects the growth and fruiting of the crop.

Pepper seedlings are stretching, what to do?

Even at the landing stage, it is necessary to take into account some nuances.

Priming

When selecting planting soil, you need to carefully study its composition. It must meet all the needs of seedlings and meet specific parameters. Have good breathability, be light, fluffy and have moderate acidity.

An unacceptable option for pepper seedlings is soil with a high percentage of minerals (nitrogen). If the pepper seedlings are stretched out, what you don’t need to do is feed them with nitrogen fertilizers, although they provoke a rather unhealthy expansion of the stem. The first signs of an excess of fertilizer are curled top leaves; if, out of ignorance, you continue to “feed” the peppers with nitrogen, then the entire top “crumples”, but remains rich green in color.

To prevent pepper seedlings from stretching out, the soil mixture should be prepared from the following ingredients:

The process of mixing all the components of the soil mixture should be done in the fall. Over the winter it will settle and settle a little, and if you store it on a balcony, in a barn or in a greenhouse, it will be disinfected by frost, which will be very useful.

For 5 liters of humus, you should take 2.5 liters of peat, 1.5 liters of river sand and 1 liter of leaf soil. Add 0.5 liters of wood ash to this mixture and mix well. Then, it is recommended to pour the resulting mixture with a “cocktail” consisting of:

• 1 tablespoon of superphosphate;
• 1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate;
• 1 teaspoon carbamide.

Fertilizers are indicated per bucket of water.

If seedlings stretch out, even in the right soil, what should you do? Perhaps it is a matter of improper planting of seeds.

Sowing

It is better to sow already sprouted pepper seeds in prepared soil. This will ensure 100% germination, and it is much easier to regulate the distance between plants during such planting.

Sprouted seeds should be placed in the planting container at least 4 centimeters apart from each other.

What to do if it is not possible to equip additional lighting. Experienced gardeners have come up with a little trick. Opposite the window sill where the young plants are located, install a mirror or stretch a sheet of aluminum foil. These devices reflect sunlight and redirect it to the seedlings. This helps the plant receive a sufficient percentage of light from all directions. With this approach, seedlings do not stretch, do not bend to the side and do not turn towards the light.

Picking

Timely picking significantly inhibits growth. In most cases, plants are ready to be transplanted into a larger container at the age of 25 days.

But in high-quality soil, the seeds hatch faster, so relying only on timing, you can outgrow the seedlings. The little pepper itself will tell you when to pick; as soon as the first true leaf forms on it, it’s time.

If the seedlings stretch even after transplanting into individual boxes, it means that the conditions created for them are not suitable. It is worth moving the pepper to another window sill or room. If the weather is uniformly warm, without freezing temperatures at night, you can move the plants to a glassed-in balcony.

To summarize, to prevent the pepper from stretching out, what should not be done:

When seedlings stretch, many gardeners are wary of using growth regulators, believing that it has a destructive effect on the seedling cells. There is a reason for this, because a forced slowdown in growth cannot but have a negative impact on the further development of the plant and the future harvest.

How to fix the situation

Some tips on how to avoid overgrowing seedlings:

Many vegetable growers begin planting their peppers in open ground quite early. They are in a hurry to get the harvest faster. However, it turns out badly. Elongated seedlings grow and spend time gaining strength. Only then does it form ovaries. Let's figure out why peppers grow and what to do to prevent seedlings from stretching.

Reasons for pulling pepper seedlings

There are many reasons why pepper seedlings stretch out. We will list the most basic ones.

Firstly, there is a lack of light. Many vegetable growers grow peppers on windowsills. At the same time, not everyone equips a source of additional light for the plant. And, as you know, this crop needs a lot of light, which is not so much at home.

Secondly, these are very early sowing dates. Pepper seedlings should be planted in mid-March - early April. In this case, the plant will be indoors for a month or a month and a half less. Still, she will be better on the street than at home.

The third reason is that the home environment is very hot and dry. Peppers need to be watered every day to prevent them from wilting. Therefore, the seedlings grow quickly. She does not have time to put nutrients into the stems, which is very bad. The optimal temperature for pepper sprouts is +20 degrees. Then you need to lower the temperature - harden the plant.

You can place the plantings on a glazed balcony if the temperature there does not drop below zero. Under such conditions, the seedlings will not stretch. All nutrients will be deposited in the stems of the plant. Naturally, at different temperatures (in the apartment and in the balcony) there should be different watering regimes. If the temperature is low, you need to water less.

Have the seedlings stretched out? This means that the reason may be dense sowing and lack of thinning. Beginner vegetable growers often sin with this. They plant all the seeds in one container. The sprouts begin to stretch immediately after emerging from the ground. They are fighting for their lives. This problem can be corrected by thinning. Leave a distance of three centimeters between the sprouts.

And finally, the last reason why the seedlings stretched out was late picking. The formation of leaves on seedlings is a sure sign that the plant’s root system has begun to form. Therefore, culture needs a lot of space. If this space is not enough, the pepper begins to stretch. We talked about the main reasons why seedlings stretch. Next you will learn how to correct the situation.

What to do to prevent seedlings from stretching

To prevent the plant from stretching, you need to plant the seeds correctly. How to do this correctly? First of all, choose a land. If you decide to purchase ready-made soil, pay attention to the composition of the soil. Peppers will not grow well in soil with a high content of minerals (especially nitrogen). Soil that is universal for all vegetables is well suited.

Seeds should be planted at a distance of three centimeters from each other. Try not to place many peppers on one windowsill. During the germination process, they will obscure each other and reach towards the sun.

In order for the plants to receive enough light, it is recommended to make reflectors: install a mirror opposite the window sill with plantings or place a sheet of foil that will reflect the sun's rays and direct them to the seedlings. This is necessary to ensure that all aspects of the crop consume light evenly. Otherwise, they will bend and turn, which will lead to damage to the seedlings.

If you pluck seedlings in a timely manner, you can stop their growth for a while. Typically, the plant can be planted in separate pots within 25 days from the moment the sprouts appear.

Please note that in prepared soil, seedlings appear much earlier. Therefore, it is better to be guided by the number of leaves on the seedlings. If at least one true leaf appears, the seedlings can be replanted.

You can start fertilizing after two leaves appear. Superphosphate fertilizers work well. The second feeding is done a week after transplanting the seedlings. The third time you need to feed the plant after transplanting the pepper into open ground.

If after transplantation the seedlings continue to stretch, it means that the place for growing is poorly chosen. Try placing the container of pepper in another room. The containers should not be close to each other. It also doesn’t hurt to reduce the frequency of watering. The optimal temperature for pepper during this growing period is + 16 degrees.

Pepper seedlings wither: what to do

Seedlings grow poorly for several reasons:

• wrong soil
• frequent watering,
• dry air,
• drafts.

Pepper grows well after plants such as onions, dill, carrots. It is not recommended to use soil for peppers after tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant. Purchasing ready-made soil is not a guarantee of quality. For example, some producers take soil from greenhouses where various plants have been grown throughout the year. Weed seeds and fungal diseases remain in such soil. That's why the pepper withers.

Do not overwater the seedlings. Abundance of water is a good environment for the development of fungal diseases. For preventive purposes, the land is treated with potassium permanganate. Peppers wither due to elevated air temperatures. Problems can also begin due to drafts.

However, the most common cause of wilting of pepper seedlings is a bacterial disease. In this case, the sprouts cannot be helped in any way. The only solution is to replant the planting material in the ground. Don't worry about planting the seeds too late. A little fertilizer - and the new seedlings will quickly catch up with their older brothers.

What does yellowing of seedling leaves mean?

There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

• the roots are tangled or not sufficiently developed;
• the plant needs nutrients;
• water scarcity;
• fungal disease.

If you plant the sprouts in separate small containers, the roots may become tangled or develop incorrectly. Due to lack of space, the plant also experiences a lack of nutrients. What to do? The problem can be solved by transplanting seedlings and untangling the root system.

Leaves may turn yellow due to a lack of nitrogen. Also, a similar phenomenon can be observed with a lack of water. By the way, pepper is 90% water. Therefore, seedlings do not tolerate drought well. Water for irrigation should be at room temperature. Otherwise, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and fall off.

Seedlings may turn yellow due to a fungal disease. For preventive purposes, treat the planting material and also treat the containers with disinfectants. If the plant is sick, then you need to carefully remove the infected shoots. Treat the remaining sprouts with a solution containing copper.

Pepper seedlings fall: reasons

There are several factors why seedlings fall:

• lack of light,
• incorrect temperature conditions,
• abundance or lack of moisture,
• frequent landings,
• drafts.

How to solve this problem? First, identify the reason for the fall of the seedlings. If 1-3 sprouts are damaged, then natural selection is to blame. These seedlings could not withstand the competition.

Carefully examine the root system of the fallen sprout. You may notice signs of fungal disease, rotting from frequent watering or drying out. Place peppers that are oversaturated with water or dehydrated in separate containers.

Try to choose the optimal watering. If you notice signs of a fungal disease, do not waste your energy on healing the plant. It is better to start saving healthy sprouts. First of all, change the soil. Then, for preventive purposes, treat the soil with fungicides or potassium permanganate. Sprinkle wood ash on top of the soil.

Thus, we told you why seedlings grow poorly. You also learned about what to do if the seedlings wither, turn yellow, stretch out, or fall. We hope that you will not encounter such problems again. And if they appear again, now you know how to deal with them.

The appearance of the first pepper shoots can be expected two to three weeks after sowing the seeds. However, after a certain period of time, problems arise for beginners and even experienced gardeners. The seedlings become thin and stretch upward. The most common problem for vegetable growers is pulling out seedlings. To get healthy, strong seedlings, it is necessary to grow them taking into account a number of features. Compliance with these requirements will allow you to obtain a bountiful harvest of peppers.

The main reasons for pulling bell peppers and their treatment

Seedlings stretch out and become thinner due to the following reasons.

In the video about the reasons and how to correct them:

Light

The main cause of the problem is lack of lighting:

• Seed material is sown for seedlings mainly in February-March. During this period, daylight hours are short;
• The stretching of seedlings after germination, as a result of insufficient lighting, occurs even at the stage of cotyledon leaves;
• In order for pepper seedlings to develop normally, it is necessary to provide them with 18 hours of daylight;
• To solve the problem, it is enough to install a reflective screen, as well as additionally illuminate the seedlings using fluorescent lamps or special phytolamps;
• If organizing additional lighting is not possible, it is worth sowing seed at a later date, when the duration of light increases.

Warm

Violation of the temperature regime also leads to stretching of seedlings:

• The optimal temperature regime for germination of seed material is from +22 to +25 degrees;
• You can prevent the seedlings from stretching out after the sprouts have pecked by lowering the daytime temperature to +18...+20 degrees, and the nighttime temperature to +16 degrees. For this purpose, containers with seedlings are taken out into the corridor at night or ventilation is provided.

The presence of dry air in the room also causes weakening and thinning of the sprouts. To eliminate the lack of humidity, use humidifiers or regularly ventilate the room. Also, containers filled with water are installed near the planting container.

Moisture

Insufficient lighting and excessive watering only aggravate this problem:

• After the first shoots appear, water the plantings twice a week;
• For irrigation, it is recommended to use warm, settled water (+25…+30 degrees);
• Excessive soil moisture, dense plantings and dry air provoke the occurrence of a disease such as blackleg, which can destroy all seedlings.

Feeding

The purchased and independently prepared soil mixture must contain all the substances necessary for the initial development of the crop:

How to grow correctly - prevention of pulling

As preventive measures, you can use several reliable methods to prevent seedlings from being pulled:

• Choose the right soil mixture for sowing seeds. It is not recommended to grow peppers in soil with a high nitrogen content. The seed material is sown in a universal substrate, which is designed specifically for growing peppers;

Transplanting into separate containers stops the stretching of seedlings.

• Be sure to pick up the seedlings. It is optimal to pick in the period from 20 to 25 days after the seeds hatch. The guideline for the procedure will be the number of full-fledged leaves. Basically, picking begins after the appearance of 1-2 well-developed leaves. When choosing containers for picking, it is advisable to give preference to light-proof ones, since growing in opaque containers promotes better development of seedlings;
• In the presence of insufficient lighting, seedlings are treated with retardants. By stopping growth, the seedlings become stronger, and immunity to blackleg and other diseases of fungal origin will also increase. The most popular growth regulator is Atlet; it is added to water for watering and spraying seedlings. Elongated seedlings are treated with the Atlet preparation three times at intervals of a week, since with a one-time treatment, growth is suspended for a short period. Next, the seedlings continue intensive growth, actively stretching;

The plant is processed for the first time at the cotyledon leaf stage.

• When sowing seed material, do not allow the plantings to become dense. Sowing of seeds is carried out at intervals of 3 cm, which will prevent further stretching of the pepper. You should also not place too many containers of seedlings on the windowsill, since as they grow they will deprive each other of the necessary sunlight. Seedlings left in the shade will certainly begin to reach for the light.

When growing pepper seedlings, you should carefully monitor its condition and follow all agrotechnical recommendations. This helps to obtain high-quality seedlings and will also prevent possible stretching of seedlings. However, if a problem does arise, it is necessary to take appropriate measures in a timely manner to correct it. Thanks to such actions, you can get a guaranteed abundant harvest of peppers in the future.

Saving pepper seedlings from overgrowing:

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​Cut and place in water. On day 5, roots form. Plant in the ground. Now there is enough light and the seedlings will not stretch out so much...

​When picking tomatoes, plant deep to the first true leaves.​

​No big deal! will get stronger! You can also plant a new one to be on the safe side. 10-15 pieces

​Monitor daily and, if necessary, carry out prevention of viral and fungal diseases.​

Mallow, also known as rose stock, and marigolds sprout easily and are undemanding to growing conditions. Seeds sown for seedlings sprout vigorously and easily tolerate unfavorable growing conditions - elevated temperatures, lack of lighting, uneven watering. Even if the seedlings stretch out on the window, then after transplanting to a permanent place, the seedlings take on a normal shape and bloom well.​

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​No matter what the reasons, the seedlings stretched out. What to do with it? The answer to this question depends on the type of plant that has outgrown. What is suitable for tomato seedlings should not be used for peppers or eggplants; the method of planting overgrown pumpkin seedlings is not applicable for cabbage. Let's start with tomatoes. What conditions need to be created for the seedlings so that they do not stretch?

​It is equipped with a special twine, with which you can change the height, bringing the lamp closer to the seedlings; As it grows, it can be raised. The advantage of such lightening is convenience. But energy costs may follow, so gardeners will be glad to purchase not only useful, but economical lamps.​

Photosynthesis can be provided by solar activity, so provide your tomatoes with a convenient location where there is plenty of sun.

Video “How to prevent seedlings from being pulled”

How can you tell if a tomato is stretching? If there are large distances between nodes on the trunk, this is a signal of excessive growth. The main problem is non-compliance with the temperature regime. It applies especially to those vegetable growers who grow seedlings indoors or on the balcony. A comfortable indicator for planted seeds is a temperature in the range of 22-24 degrees. As soon as the seedlings hatch, it should be reduced to 15-20 degrees. This is difficult to do in apartment conditions.​

plodovie.ru

​I take it out and make a ring. Then into the same pot. There will be more additional roots.​

What to do if seedlings stretch and why does this happen?

Causes

​Pinch off the center/spine. Lower the temperature. Additional illumination at a distance. 10-15 cm.​

1. ​They are only now being sown. They should have stretched out. The daylight hours are still short.
2. Gradually accustom the seedlings to the open air.
3. ​Weak, elongated, pale seedlings are bad. It is impossible to get a full harvest from such plants. Even ornamental plants from overgrown seedlings bloom weaker.​

​Growing cabbage most often occurs through seedlings. It is not difficult to grow it, it is important to create the necessary conditions. The most important ones are temperature, lighting and watering. Germination of any cabbage seeds occurs at +20 degrees. With the emergence of seedlings, the seedling boxes need to be moved to a colder room, where it is maintained at +10-12 degrees. Keeping seedlings in such conditions with simultaneous sufficient lighting allows you to slow down their growth. The seedlings become rich green, stunted with a powerful root system. There are two reasons why tomato seedlings may fall: the seedlings are overgrown or the seedlings are sick. Elimination methods depend on the cause.​

• ​For sowing, prepare the soil, seasoned with complex fertilizers.​
• ​Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) will serve you simply and cheaply. If the backlight area is approximately 60 by 60 cm, then 4 lamps of 15 kW each should be used. The color temperature for such lamps should remain in the range of 2700-6400K, since plants need blue color.​

Temperature

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Athlete

​If the seedlings overgrow, the correct answer was given by Evelina’s picture, BUT with the amendment, you need to plant the ring in a bed, not in a pot, and plant it deeper, 15-20 cm from the surface, and they will grow well, and will tolerate acclimatization normally.

Watering

​This will slow down their growth in height.​

Crop density

​It's early! Sow a new one at the end of February. What will you plant in the ground? Overgrown, blooming and with ovaries. You won’t get anything worthwhile from these ovaries and flowers - the flowers will fall off, and from the ovaries you will get crooked monsters.​

"Ambulance" for seedlings

​Try to protect the seedlings from being pulled out to get a rich harvest and beautiful flowers!​

Tomato seedlings stretch out a lot and fall - what to do?

​Simple rules for growing strong, healthy seedlings:​

If for any reason the seedlings of any cabbage are stretched out, the mistakes made are corrected in the same way. They start with a pick. Each plant is planted in a separate cup. When transplanting, be sure to pinch the root tip of the seedling - this will slow down the growth of the seedlings. When planting, the cabbage plant is buried down to the cotyledon leaves. Elongated plants are provided with good lighting, if necessary, supplemented with fluorescent lamps, the air temperature is lowered to +10-12C, and nutritious soil is added to the stems of elongated plants. After a week to ten days, the transplanted seedlings are fed with potassium fertilizers or ash infusion.

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What to do if pepper seedlings have stretched out?

​What to do: tomato seedlings have stretched out, but it is not possible to change the composition of the soil? Moreover, is your apartment located in a shaded area? Vegetable growers use in such cases drugs that are stimulants and fertilizers at the same time. "Athlete" is one of them. It stops the growth of the above-ground parts of plants by thickening and shortening the trunk. Over the course of a week, the vegetable will decrease in height, but the root system will begin to actively develop.​

​The lack of solar activity is also the reason for the stretching of the crop. Usually the first shoots appear in early spring, when the sun does not appear enough and gives off heat. Unfavorable weather conditions are also a cause of stretching, for example, the plants have already grown, but spring is delayed or it suddenly becomes cold.​

If the eggplant seedlings have stretched out

If the seedlings are very overgrown, cut off the top and plant in water. It will take root very quickly, and plant it back in the ground. She will quickly catch up with the rest of the plants.​

Cucumbers, zucchini, watermelons

Cut off half and root

Cabbage

​I understand your impatience, I’m impatient myself, but everything has its time.​

​With respect, Sofya Guseva!​

Flowers

​For sowing, use full-fledged, disinfected and germinated seeds.​

​Ornamental plants planted as seedlings can also stretch out. The reasons for this phenomenon are the same as when growing vegetables: increased temperature with insufficient lighting, too dense sowing, high humidity and too much fertilizing.​

If the tomato stem is not very stretched, it can be planted at an angle. It is not worth digging a hole too deep to plant an elongated bush. When planting, it is enough to dig a trench, shallow but long. Place the tomato stem horizontally into it until it reaches a well-developed leaf and cover it with soil. With such planting, the roots will be at the required depth, and the stem buried in the ground will give rise to the growth of additional roots, which will bring additional yield.

​Phosphorus fertilizers will allow the root system to strengthen and develop.​

​After watching the recording, you will get answers to the following questions: what to do if the seedlings stretch out and how often it is necessary to water the seedlings.​

The drug should be used several times, since its effect on the root system lasts a week. Then the tomatoes will stretch out again. "Athlete" consists of ampoules. It can be sprayed on the leaves.​

​Another reason is too dense seedlings. Even with good lighting, not all plants receive it equally well, since they obscure each other.​

​Atlet drug. Strengthens the root system, thickens the stem.​

De Barao is a tall variety, which is why the seedlings stretch, its tomatoes grow in 7-9 leaves

1. ​If the bags say 120-130 days, they planted them on time. Transfer to a cool place, or start hardening. It is a great mistake that the first peppers and flowers will fall off when transplanted. Pepper is my favorite crop and I harvest my first harvest at the end of June in a film greenhouse (Moscow region).​
2. ​dive into liter cups and deepen to the cotyledons​
3. ​Fill the planting containers with disinfected, fertile, loose soil.​
4. ​Petunia seedlings are sown in February-March. At this time the day is short and there is not enough light. Seeds are sown in a hot, dry atmosphere in an apartment. The seedlings are hot, dark, and stretch out. It is possible to bring such seedlings to flowering. To do this, when picking, it is necessary to plant young plants a little deeper, up to the cotyledon leaves, pinch the tops, improve the lighting of the plantings and lower the ambient temperature. Severely overgrown plants can be pruned, and the resulting cuttings take root easily.​
5. ​Read more about planting problem tomatoes in the article “How to plant overgrown tomatoes“.​
6. Potassium will strengthen the plant’s immunity.
7. ​It's finally spring! Gardeners are already itching with all their might - the seeds have been purchased, the soil for seedlings has been prepared, fertilizers have been stored. We sowed seeds to grow seedlings and lo and behold, the sprouted seedlings stretched out and lay down. Eternal questions
8. ​The manufacturer recommends dissolving the substance in 1.5 liters of water. Remember: small plants cannot be treated; you need to wait until three leaves appear. If the tomato seedlings have stretched out a week after using the drug, they can be sprayed again. The manufacturer recommends performing this procedure no more than 3 times. If, due to the density of planting, the vegetable needs to be kept for 5 days before planting, then a week before replanting you can spray it a fourth time or water it.

It is important to know that tomatoes stretch when the gardener has selected the wrong soil, which contains a lot of nitrogen and little phosphorus and potassium.

Debarao is a tomato variety that reaches 2 meters.

belochka77.ru

The pepper seedlings stretched out. Moved to a well-lit place...

Hedgehog

​sprinkle with earth

byashka

​Spray the athlete.​

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​you can sprinkle it with soil, additional roots will appear, the seedlings will grow stronger, it’s up to you...​

Oksana Kisko

​Sow the seeds at a sufficient distance from each other.​

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Viola or pansies, lobelia and snapdragons are sown for seedlings very early. They have very small seeds and take a long time to germinate. The emerging seedlings suffer from excess heat and lack of sunlight; trying to compensate for the dry air, flower growers flood the seedlings with water. When sowing, it is difficult to scatter small seeds evenly over the surface of the sowing container - the seedlings appear thickened. You can combat this problem by pinching the tops of the plants, shortening the roots, planting them at a sufficient distance into the seedling box, illuminating the seedlings with fluorescent lamps until 14-16 hours of daylight, and lowering the temperature of the plants.​

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​Tomato plants can also fall due to damage by “black leg” - an infectious disease that affects seedlings of densely sown seeds. In this case, the diseased seedlings are removed, the soil is shed with Fitosporin, a pink solution of potassium permanganate or any fungicide.

Elena Gubaidullina

​The seeds are disinfected, germinated and hardened. The sowing containers are kept warm until germination. Most crops germinate at a temperature of +20-25°C; lighting is not required. But with the appearance, not even of shoots, but only of the first loops, the seedling container is transferred to a place with good lighting and a lower temperature. With the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, the temperature around the seedlings is reduced to +12-15°C. It will delay the growth of seedlings.

Olga

There are many reasons why seedlings stretch. Seedlings are stretched due to the fact that the proportion between lighting, heating, watering regime, frequency of sowing seeds and fertilizing is disturbed.

New day

​In case of an overdose of Atlanta, white spots may form on the leaves, which disappear after a couple of days.​
​Too careful care does not improve the quality of vegetables: due to excessive fertilizers and watering, they tend to rise.​

Marishka M.

It’s okay, just plant it deeper or cover it with soil.​

ANNA ORLOVA

​Water with ATHLET..​

Lena

​Treat with an athlete again after 2 weeks and add additional light. Although you can plant a new one if you don’t mind these seeds. I haven’t seen anything stretch out under the lamp yet.​

What to do with tomato seedlings if they have become very elongated but remain very thin?! Tomato variety Debarao.

Marina Marina

​Excuse me, are you growing it for Central Asia? Is our North Caucasus covered in ice? transplant into cups and in a cool but bright place...​

Polina Shubina

​Place the seedling boxes in a well-lit place with moderate temperature.​

Hedgehog

​Preferably. so that the seedlings are like this!​

Luda Vysotskaya

​Cutting and rooting the top or planting with an elongated stem horizontally is useless. You won't get any additional roots - this method is only suitable for tomatoes. With a lack of light and heat, peppers stop their growth, and at the same time, root growth stops. At the same time, peppers are less likely to stretch out and are more patient with growing conditions. A flower growing in a fork can retard the growth of a pepper seedling.​
With the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, you can spray the young plants with Athlete-type preparations. But this drug does not just slow down the growth of the plant, it affects the cells - stopping their division. It is unknown how this will affect the harvest in the future. Therefore, use such drugs with caution.​
​Insufficient lighting at elevated temperatures and dry air cause the plant stem to elongate, become thin and weak.​

Olga

​There is a non-standard method, thanks to which you can not only save tomatoes from being pulled, but also increase the yield. You need to cut off the trunk of the plant above the second or third leaf and put it in water. After about five days, roots will appear on the cut vegetable and it is suitable for planting. During the same time, on another cut trunk, stepsons will sprout - new branches, which can also be cut off and lowered into water or left to grow. In the future, the stepsons need to be planted so that their lower part is in the ground. That is, the plant is planted lying down.

Elena Kurilova

​What to do if tomato seedlings have stretched out? Firstly, plants should initially be planted in soil rich in phosphorus and potassium. The first element is responsible for the development of a powerful root system, and the second thickens the intercellular sap in plants and acts as a deterrent. Therefore, tomatoes do not have strong cell expansion.​

Often, planted in February-March, it very quickly grows in height and stretches out. This happens not only among beginner gardeners, but also among more experienced ones. It is obvious that the plants are experiencing a lack of light. There are other reasons that must be eliminated immediately, otherwise you should not count on a good harvest.

Causes of elongated seedlings

• Lack of lighting. Containers with seedlings are placed in a well-lit place, without direct sunlight. Be sure to turn the containers towards the light source as needed. This way they will develop evenly. If the seeds are sown early (January, early February), using fluorescent or phytolamps.
• High temperature of seedlings, dry air. For pepper seeds to germinate, conditions of +23…+28°C are required. With the appearance of the first “loops”, the temperature is temporarily lowered to +15...+17°C during the day. At night up to +10…13°С. Further development occurs at +20…25°С. Lack of humidity in the room will cause the sprouts to weaken and become thinner. You can eliminate dry air using a humidifier or regularly ventilating the room. Also, containers with water are placed next to the planting boxes.

Attention! Temperature changes inhibit excessive growth.

• Crop density. Planting too densely, even under the right conditions, will result in thin, long stems. Plants will be forced to fight for light and nutrients.

• Too nutritious soil, application of nitrogen fertilizers. For seedlings, specially designed mixtures are used. No additional fertilizing is applied, especially nitrogen, which promotes intensive growth.
• Excessive soil moisture. The first watering is 2-3 days after emergence. The water is warm, settled +25…30°С. High humidity will not only lead to stretching of seedlings, but also to fungal diseases.

Control measures and prevention

Seeds are sown in containers no more often than at a distance of 5-6 cm. More dense plantings must be thinned out. Watering should not be excessive, but the soil should not be allowed to become dry. With the appearance of the first true leaf, the peppers dive.

Advice! Late picking after the appearance of several pairs of leaves will lead to a poorly developed root system.

To do this, choose individual cups 8-10 cm deep. It is advisable that the containers be dark. After picking, the plants are returned to their old place. Under new conditions, seedlings will be sick longer.

To increase the amount of light, you can install reflective surfaces on the sides of the window. To do this, use foil, foil-lined insulation or plain white fabric. The rays, reflected from the material, illuminate the seedlings.

In the phase of 3-4 leaves, to stimulate uniform development, peppers are sprayed with Atlet growth regulator. Dilute it according to the instructions: 1 ampoule per 1 liter of water. Processing is carried out 1 time.

Picked seedlings with 2-3 pairs of true leaves are fertilized with special biostimulants for growth. Microbiological fertilizers increase the content of beneficial microflora in the soil. They are also useful for the development of the root system. The second feeding is carried out after the appearance of 5-6 leaves. Usually this is a mixture of urea (5 g) and superphosphate (30 g) per 10 liters of water. Young plants will respond well to the addition of ash or watering with nettle infusion.

Formation of pepper bushes and care in a greenhouse

When planting in the ground, the plants are not buried, since the pepper is no longer able to grow new roots from the stem. The procedure is performed using the transfer method. Before planting, the seedlings are watered and, if desired, sprayed with Epin. Maintain the required distance between bushes. The bed is mulched.

During the growth process it is necessary to tie up the plants. To prevent the peppers from stretching excessively in the greenhouse, they are formed with the appearance of the 10th leaf. Leave a couple of the strongest side shoots, pinching out the rest. If you ignore these measures, then excessive shading will lead to shedding of flowers. The circular garter will protect the branches after fruit formation. Pinching the tops a month before the end of the growing season will stop excess growth and direct all the nutrition to increase your yield.

The necessary conditions for planting and maintaining pepper seedlings will completely eliminate the need to use drugs and growth regulators. Extreme measures are permissible only in critical, advanced situations.

What to do if pepper seedlings stretch out: video