Growing Iceberg Lettuce

[shivvy]

I am trying to grow iceberg lettuce for the first time. I have sown it in a window box that I have on my kitchen window (inside).

It shot up after a few days to very thin seedlings approx 1.5 inches tall with 2 leaves at the top. However they seem to be too tall for the stem being so thin and they are now lying flat on the soil. I think that they are still growing though.
I'm just looking for advice on whether this is normal or if I have maybe done something wrong.

Thanks.

[tonyav]

Probably lack of light according to this link.

https://www.plantvillage.org/en/questions/665-lettuce-why-are-my-lettuce-seedlings-leggy

[shivvy]

Thanks for the link tonyav.
I can't actually think of where they would get more light than on the window sill though!

[tonyav]

They may need transplanting then, shivvy.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/transplant-leggy-lettuce-35933.html

[shivvy]

Yeah I reckon so tonyav. I'll maybe bin the extra long/tall ones and transplant the rest.

[alavahalf]

It may sound daft but even with your seeds on the windowsill they may still not get enough light. They need at least 8 hours of direct sunlight, otherwise they will go in search of more light by extending their stem and reaching towards the most light they see. You will end up with leggy/spindly stems.
Remember you are trying to grow letteuce and shouldn't really sow more than half a dozen at a time. Start some more seeds now and do that every few weeks and you will have a constant supply throughout the summer.
These are 29 days old... http://i64.tinypic.com/oa7sdj.png[/IMG] .. I've already transplanted quite a few from this batch

The photo was taken yesterday and they were grown in my polytunnel, where they get more than 12 hours of light a day. I did have some more that I started earlier at home in a window. But they went leggy, just like yours.