Courgette long stems

WildFlower_UK

I'm new to growing from seed this year, and need some help! I sowed some courgette and basil seed at the end of April, and sunflower and echinops about a week ago. All germinated well. However, my courgette and sunflower seedlings, while growing fairly quickly, seem to have rather long stems which is causing some to flop. What should I do? Is it time to pot into a larger pot and if so, how deep should they be planted?

Courgettes



Sunflowers (right)

Buttercupdays

They will need a larger pot soon and yes you can plant them a bit deeper, but right now what they need is a lot more light. Move them somewhere brighter, but not full sun all day or they might get scorched. This will stop them reaching for the light and they will grow more strongly. Keep them well watered - they will dry out fast in those small pots, and turn them every day to keep them straight.

WildFlower_UK

@Buttercupdays Thanks so much! I have moved them to our garden doors which get a lot of light but not direct all day. I've staked the stalks and can top up the soil to the top of the pots just to provide some support (the soil has sunk since planting due to watering), and will repot the courgettes into larger pots this weekend, and the sunflowers next weekend. Does that sound right? I had been rotating them and checking the water which has been moist but not too wet. Hopefully they'll grow stronger in their new pots

Is now also a good time to thin out my basil seedlings? 

New location


Basil seedlings

Skylarks

I’d repot the courgettes up to the first set of leaves. 

As for direct sunlight, I don’t think it’s direct sunlight if there’s a window. I’d be tempted to move them into the part where the sun shines through the window.

WildFlower_UK

Thanks @Skylarks! I will repot to the first seed leaves. The sun moves from right to left of the windows, so will just try and keep the trays in the sun as it moves. The whole area in front stays quite warm and light from morning to late afternoon. You can't see but there are also windows either side of the doors that face into the room at an angle which provides more light, even if it's not direct.