Getting enough light through a window is extremely difficult (if you have modern, low-e windows it may be impossible.) You'll have much better luck if you can get them a light. A cheap fluorrescent tube fixture set an inch or so above the plants would be sufficient.

Should have thought about that sooner! Oh well, live and learn right?

If I get one now, would it be too late to save my seedlings?

Not at all! When they have their first set of true leaves (about now), just replant them deeply, and no one has to know they ever got a little leggy.

Thanks for the helpful advice!

I'm going to get a lamp and some pots ASAP! Although their true leaves are still budding/buds yet. Should I wait till their roots are a little more establish?

Hopefully I didn't stress or stunt them too much with my inexperience. I just get sad when plants in my care don't do well.

If you don't have many plants, a compact fluorescent bulb in a desk lamp will work or any lamp that you can get near your seedlings. I'll bet you already have that. The cheapest shop lights at Lowe's and 40 watt inexpensive bulbs will make it easier though.

I have about 50 seedlings because I figured I would start small. So I actually got a lamp with a reflective aluminum crown and inserted a compact fluorescent bulb. Hopefully it's enough.

"compact fluorescent bulb in a desk lamp will work or any lamp that you can get near your seedlings"

This is good to know because that is just what I have!!

I also have a fan blowing on them to keep them strong and used to wind!

Karen

Does wind stimulate the little ones to grow stockier?

Vivian

I doubt a desk lamp with a single compact fluorescent is large enough for 50 seedlings. The light needs to be no more than 4" away from the leaves.

Yes wind is always good for seedlings. Many experienced growers use fans on them.

I agree with Taz, a single compact fluorescent is not enough. A cheap set of shop lights with two 40 watt fluorescents at about two inches above the plant tops will make a big difference. Deep repotting, shop lights, and a fan will straighten those puppies out.

TomNJ

Everyone here is right. I had the same issue starting out. I first used a simple shop (project) light, and that is not good enough. Big Box stores sell shop lights for about $10. Trick is figuring out your setup. Get some 40 watt bulbs. You can see some of my posts if you search "I Need Lots of Help" There is a lot of info in there. Optional you can see my blog, http://timstomatoes.blogspot.com/ .

Botttom line: Lights are a must. Fan is a must. You will see a major improvement with a fan. (I used a small 8" box fan). I set both the light and fan on same timer about 10 hours per day.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Tomato Blog

50 tomato plants is a lot. You do need a shop light.

Here's a link that will help you get started with the light setup. Lots of pictures there on the 'post your..... setup' thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing under Lights

Oh I only have a few seedlings...I forgot to mention I also have them in a window for light too. Oops.

I might get more advanced next year if I can get the 4 indoor ones I have planted to grow :)

The rest I wintersowed. Much easier.

Lots of great info here about lights.

They're not all tomatoes, there are some peppers and broccoli. Also, 50 is a pre-pruning/pre-selection before number. I have yet to cut them down to one per growing cell because I'm waiting for their true leaves to become bigger.

Also, I did not use a desk lamp. My husband rigged up a few bulbs in an aluminum casing.

Another question: because my seedlings are a little leggy, I'm planning to transplant them into bigger containers and to plant them a little deeper. Is this okay? And is using potting mix pre-mixed with MiracleGro okay?

Hi Bsze,

Planting them deeper when you transplant is perfect. To help them develope stockier stems, you can plut a small fan to blow gently on them for an hour or more each day. I have my fans (small 6" clamp on fans) set to run for 30 minutes every few hours. Shaking the pots or trays gently 3 or 4 times a day would help. Or you can run your hands over them.

Plants subjected to thigmomorphogenesis (often termed mechanical perturbation or MP in the scientific literature), or physical disturbances such as wind and touch, generally respond through reduction in the rate of stem elongation and shoot height, and they increase in stem diameter. All of these features result in the formation of short, stocky plants.

This response is purely adaptive and allows individual plants to compensate for the different levels of stress that occur in their natural environment. The advantage of this is that shorter and stronger plants are less easily damaged by natural mechanical stresses (especially wind) than their taller, more slender counterparts.

I hope that helps.

Betsy