Starting out seedlings?
Question:I've planted seeds of several types (watermelon, pumpkin, bell pepper, grapefruit) at different times in an indoor starter pot. I do this for fun when I find a seed in my food. Anyway, they've all grown, like a rocket I might add, but after a few days they are always tall with two leaves on top. They get too tall and start bending, then fall over and die. What can I do to control their heights or thicken their stems? I've tried putting things in the soil for them to wrap around, but they only want to go up.
Answers:
After the formation of the two leaves, that will serve as a growth node on the plant...or, "stage one", if you will. After that, it will start to shoot up again, as you've experienced. When the second node starts to form, pinch off the buds. Keep pinching them off until you start to see new buds forming on the lower portion of the plant. By doing this, you force the new buds to emerge lower on the plant, thereby causing the plants to become more "bushy" as opposed to "leggy". The watermelon and the pumpkin shouldn't get "tall", as they are more of a creeping vine and will grow on the ground. But, if see it happening...do the same to them.
A note on the watermelons.you should take note of the formation of a very curly little vine that sprouts very close to the melon. Let the melon grow to size, then QUIT WATERING. In a couple of weeks, the little curly vine will dry out completely. This is a little natural indicator that we use to determine when the melon is ripe for picking. The reason you quit watering is so that the natural sweetness of the melon's sugars will concentrate and become sweet. If you continue to water, you will dilute the sweetness of the melons! Not many people know this, so enjoy the rewards of my tip!
They're not getting enough light, so all of their energy is going into growing toward the light. Do a web search on "leggy seedlings".
Some plants (like watermelons & pumpkins) are supposed to grow along the ground because their fruit is too heavy for the plant to support. Other plants successfully grow only along supports. Other plants need nothing.
What you should do depends upon what you are growing. Different plants need different care. Next time you plant a seed at random, spend a few miniutes on the 'net researching that plant. You'll know what to do to keep it alive.
a brighter spot, also they need more soil about two weeks after sprouting and don't over pinch new growth as that can cause problems too..buy a bag of mushroom manure and add to the new soil that you transplant into
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