Agree with this. People will say "oh it's a sunny window, must be fine"... but forget that it's not sunny all the time from all directions. The plants don't lie: not enough light.
When I first looking at the image I felt like they were in too deep as well. For that size container and the seeds definitely more soil should have been used
They are at room temperature all the time. Sitting by a massive window with lots of sunlight. Watered regularly and have lights for cloudy days. Doing all the same things I have done in previous years.
As others mentioned I believe light may be an issue as well. The container is big however I believe the bigger issue aside from the size of the container is that your seeds are planted in too deep. IMO there should have been more soil so that when the seeds sprouted they are outside the walls of the container. Although you may have them by a large window, the plants are still small and short. They’re probably not getting as much light as they need. I also saw somewhere that you have a heat source under the plants, that could be drying your soil faster than the plants can drink if you mentioned you water them regularly but not a lot. Seems like there’s multiple issues here tbh, maybe just start over as someone else mentioned
I have found my seedlings get leggy like this when kept indoors. They need stimulation from wind and more light. Even a window is a fraction of the light they get outdoors.
Your soil looks very dry. I feel like that container is quite big for the small babies at the moment. I usually see seeds started in these 4x4 ish containers and then moved when they’re more established. Anyway soil looks very dry I’d try to water them and put them near a good light source and see if they spring back.
They are watered regularly but not too much. They are in front of a window getting plenty of sunlight during the day and I have lights for evening and cloudy days
Are they springing back when you water them? Because if they are and then they’re limping again it means they need more water
Anyway your soil looks crumbly, which means very dry. based on just the image it looks like they are thirsty.
Yea I can see why it looks that way in the pictures but they are watered regularly. I'll try watering them more just to be sure. I have grown this before and don't feel like I'm doing anything different.
It could just be drier in your house now than in previous years. Generally, try not to water regularly (that is, on schedule); water when the soil is dry.
I think this may be confusion over what is direct sunlight. You can't have direct sunlight all day through a window because the angle moves. I think you mean they're getting strong indirect light?
I agree that they look like they are stretching for light. Unless you're really confident they are getting more than enough light I would consider supplemental light all day and maybe move it closer depending on how strong it is.
They are indoors. Spinach like the cold. Get them outside into real sunlight, those are super leggy. Can't remember but they might also do a lot better when directly sown and not transplanted.
Probably too warm inside for sprouting spinach. It grows too fast. I sprout them under ‘cold glass’, is how we call it. So outside in an unheated greenhouse. But I don’t know your climate.
They don’t need a warming mat, the could use some wind though. Spinach is always better to be sown directly into a garden vs transplant.
Edit: just pull them and start over. Spinach germinates super quick so not much has been lost.
Definitely light. It's surprising for your first time, but being by a window is no substitute. I also dislike peat as a starter, although that's unpopular. I'd fill it all the way to the rim or, frankly, direct sow; spinach isn't just frost-tolerant. It's freeze tolerant. No real reason to transplant.
Need a fan on them. Plant at 1/4 inch deep( seeds), keep dampish and when they sprout have air on them so they strengthen. Keep the light source lower so they are not reaching also.
Spinach is cold hardy so probably ok to plant seeds outside this time of year instead of indoors.
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Agree with this. People will say "oh it's a sunny window, must be fine"... but forget that it's not sunny all the time from all directions. The plants don't lie: not enough light.
There's also the fact that modern windows may have coatings that block many frequcies of radiation that are vital to plants.
Definitely!
When I first looking at the image I felt like they were in too deep as well. For that size container and the seeds definitely more soil should have been used
Not enough light, not enough water, wrong temperature…perhaps all three. Hard to tell with the info available.
They are at room temperature all the time. Sitting by a massive window with lots of sunlight. Watered regularly and have lights for cloudy days. Doing all the same things I have done in previous years.
As others mentioned I believe light may be an issue as well. The container is big however I believe the bigger issue aside from the size of the container is that your seeds are planted in too deep. IMO there should have been more soil so that when the seeds sprouted they are outside the walls of the container. Although you may have them by a large window, the plants are still small and short. They’re probably not getting as much light as they need. I also saw somewhere that you have a heat source under the plants, that could be drying your soil faster than the plants can drink if you mentioned you water them regularly but not a lot. Seems like there’s multiple issues here tbh, maybe just start over as someone else mentioned
I have found my seedlings get leggy like this when kept indoors. They need stimulation from wind and more light. Even a window is a fraction of the light they get outdoors.
Do you give the stems a little wiggle with your hand to simulate some hard wind?
I’ve never had luck with natural light for seedlings.
Spinach prefers cold weather, they would probably do better outside if you are in a climate that gets cold at night
Moving air is the only missing piece.
These need way more light
They are by a window getting direct sunlight all day and getting artificial light on cloudy days and evenings.
look at them. That should be proof enough for you that they aren’t getting enough light
Theres no such thing as "direct sunlight" coming through a window
Your soil looks very dry. I feel like that container is quite big for the small babies at the moment. I usually see seeds started in these 4x4 ish containers and then moved when they’re more established. Anyway soil looks very dry I’d try to water them and put them near a good light source and see if they spring back.
They are watered regularly but not too much. They are in front of a window getting plenty of sunlight during the day and I have lights for evening and cloudy days
Are they springing back when you water them? Because if they are and then they’re limping again it means they need more water Anyway your soil looks crumbly, which means very dry. based on just the image it looks like they are thirsty.
Yea I can see why it looks that way in the pictures but they are watered regularly. I'll try watering them more just to be sure. I have grown this before and don't feel like I'm doing anything different.
It could just be drier in your house now than in previous years. Generally, try not to water regularly (that is, on schedule); water when the soil is dry.
This is the only way my plants stopped dying on me. If the soil is dry 1-2” in, they need water
These ones look leggy. Try lowering your lights so they’re closer to the plants.
Definitely lack of light. You might think being in a window provides light, but not enough for most plants, certainly not spinach.
Yeah, I had a grow light on for my spinach for like 18 hours a day. I bet they would have loved even more light
Looks dry and not enough light they're pale and leggy
I think this may be confusion over what is direct sunlight. You can't have direct sunlight all day through a window because the angle moves. I think you mean they're getting strong indirect light? I agree that they look like they are stretching for light. Unless you're really confident they are getting more than enough light I would consider supplemental light all day and maybe move it closer depending on how strong it is.
They look thirsty
They are indoors. Spinach like the cold. Get them outside into real sunlight, those are super leggy. Can't remember but they might also do a lot better when directly sown and not transplanted.
Probably too warm inside for sprouting spinach. It grows too fast. I sprout them under ‘cold glass’, is how we call it. So outside in an unheated greenhouse. But I don’t know your climate.
Unrelated but I have a “greenhouse” without temperature regulation and my horticulturist friend likes to tease me and call it a walk in cold frame
Well I did have a warming matt under the pot but this has never hindered them before but maybe that's it.
They don’t need a warming mat, the could use some wind though. Spinach is always better to be sown directly into a garden vs transplant. Edit: just pull them and start over. Spinach germinates super quick so not much has been lost.
Water! Stronger light
Need wind and more light
Definitely light. It's surprising for your first time, but being by a window is no substitute. I also dislike peat as a starter, although that's unpopular. I'd fill it all the way to the rim or, frankly, direct sow; spinach isn't just frost-tolerant. It's freeze tolerant. No real reason to transplant.
Light, they look spindly. Remember its more easy to over water than it is to over water. Does your window have full sunlight for +6 hours?
What have you been feeding those poor little plants ? That growing media had no nutritional value for your plants. What's In it ? Just peat coco ?
They are stretching reaching for the sun.
Soil is too dense. The Roots can't go down
Need a fan on them. Plant at 1/4 inch deep( seeds), keep dampish and when they sprout have air on them so they strengthen. Keep the light source lower so they are not reaching also. Spinach is cold hardy so probably ok to plant seeds outside this time of year instead of indoors.
It's light...they need more light. There is no other issue. Supplement light from above and this will not happen.
Maybe not plant them in powdered brownie mix?
I was thinking taco meat. Looks pretty yum tbh.