Your seedlings haven't gotten enough light, and they are stretching to get at it. You need a brighter light source to prevent that from happening. I start my seeds indoors, and put them under flour. lights - which are about 1 inch from the plants. It doesn't get warm enough to hurt the plants. You'll want to rotate the plants from the ends to the middle every 3-4 days, and it doesn't hurt to rotate the plants when you are watering them (just turn 'em a few degrees).

You'll want to harden them off slowly when they get bigger and it gets warmer outdoors. Over a week, 10 days, gradually expose them to direct sunlight. I usually start mine outdoors in the shade, then shift them into sunlight for a little longer each day, and keep them out of the wind!

Good luck - you're setting a good example!

Melissa - go to the Growing from Seed forum and read through the many FAQs there - especially the one called How to get started? and the one called My seedlings are growing, now what? You'll find all kinds of info to make your next attempt more successful

Lights, lights, lights. You simply have to have at least one fluorescent shop light for it to work well.

And give more thought to which seeds you start early. In your zone it is much too early to pre-start beans and cucumbers since they gorw fast but can't be planted out into the garden until the soil warms up about 60-65 degrees, perhaps 6-8 weeks from now for you?

Broccoli can be started early since it can go into the garden much, much earlier. Try some lettuce and cabbage now too.

The long lank seedlings you now have may possibly be saved by transplanting them deeply - up to just below the leaves - into another container and then given much more light.

Good luck with your gardening buddy. ;)

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing from Seed forum - FAQ's

Be patient I know its hard(: you have plenty of time to replant those beans ans cukes when it gets a little warmer out

You can even plant broccoli seeds in the garden. I prefer this because the broccoli gets sweeter during the cooler fall days. I am so envious of you. Some of my best memories are of my little boy and I out in the garden. He used to love to play with lady bugs and watch worms that he had dug up. Don't laugh, but an old German doctor had told me to take off his diapers whenever he was outside and that this would help him potty train faster. Sure enough he became aware of urinating and number 2 during our garden days. In no time he was trained and never had accidents at night either. Now he's eighteen and is going to go to college in the fall. I know you'll have a lot of good garden memories with your child as well. Good luck to the two of you