Seedling planting depth

[Don Foley]

Hi Charles,

I noticed in one of your recent videos where you were planting PSB seedlings and you planted them with the Cotyledons below the surface.
‘Ive always been told when dealing with leggy seedlings to plant on to just below these leaves.
Could you explain your reasoning on this.
Also, when thinking about this it did occur to me that there might be times when having leggy seedlings might be of benefit, for instance Cabbages. The extra inch or so of stem below ground when subsequently planted on would help to stabilise the plant? Or would the leggyness come with other disadvantages for the plant generally,

Don.

[charles]

Don, why believe what you have ‘always been told’?
Beliefs based on hearsay like that lead gardeners up blind alleys.

I plant up to the growing point, as far as practical.
Yes it gives stability.
And I never aim to grow leggy plants, but sometimes they happen!

Also pricking out deep enables one to stabilise leggy seedlings: I explain and demonstrate this on my courses.

[Don Foley]

Hi Charles,

Much of what I know about gardening I have learnt from books by people such as Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Klaus Laitenberger and of course yourself. I can honestly say I haven’t seen anyone cover the Cotyledons.
I will certainly ignore this in future when I get leggy seedlings.

Don.

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