How long does it take?

[secuono]

Have seedlings 2in or so tall, most still have their baby leaves, some are getting their adult sets. But it seems like it's all taking a freakishly long time...
Have a Jumpstart light and a 4ft shop light, hardly anything above them.
70F in the house, on 1in foam board, wood flooring isn't insulated, so wanted to keep them somewhat protected from the cold floor.
How long does it take for seedlings to look like real plants or to stop looking frail??

 

[so lucky]

It does take forever. Mine are taking their time this year, too. Some are 6 weeks old, and still look like infants.

 

[secuono]

Ughh, that's so....depressing, lol. Should of started them back in January or something!

Grow little boogers, grow!

 

[ducks4you]

I used to think that, too, but if they stay small and grow nice, fat stems they are MUCH healther than the string bean long stemmed seedlings, which can snap off and die suddenly.

 

[lesa]

I think they will be just fine. If only there was a "patience" seed- we could all use a few! Do you have any options for a cold frame? I imagine it won't be long now, that you can start bringing them outside. I presume spring is coming...Getting them out in a protected fashion with actual sunlight will make a difference. Hang in there- they will be grown ups before you know it!

 

[secuono]

I just want them out of this frail baby stage where breathing on them scares me.
No coldframes. We have lots of sudden freezing nights that show up almost with no warning, so rather not move them outside until the actual last frost. Which last year, we had 3 sudden frosts after the 'last' frost...That's how I lost tons of plants I had in the ground. 3rd frost DH texted me to let me know and I covered the plants with hay and bed sheets, they made it.

Still haven't added film to the Aframe greenhouse, we had 5in of snow a few days ago after 70F temps...

 

[baymule]

Mine looked like that too and I did plant them in January. I got them set out and some still look a little sad, but the others have dug in and started growing. S L O W L Y but growing. The weather is so weird this year. Where I live, mid February is the time to plant potatoes. We dig them the end of May. Well, I planted, but they didn't peek out for 3 1/2 weeks! Dunno when they'll be ready this year.

 

[secuono]

Just saw a post about 2-3wk old tomato plants and they said to the OP to transplant them and they will grow a ton in no time.
So....what do you all do? Wait how long before transplanting?
My seeds sprouted just 3-4 days after planting them, real fast. Been watering them extra, since I noticed they've been drying out lately, and that seems to help a bit.
Should of used big pots to start, I hate potting up, such a waste of time. I also don't kill off sprouts. :/ I'm weird like that.

 

[Smart Red]

I wait until the danger of frost is gone -- that is May 15th around south-est, central-est Wisconsin. If I got a late start with the tomato seedlings, I wouldn't hesitate to plant them into the garden at that age after the 15th of May. I have transplanted 'bitty' tomato volunteers with no problem at a much smaller size.

 

[catjac1975]

They do best with bottom heat.