Sweet pepper "Topgirl"

* If your seedlings developed normally through March and April but suddenly started stretching by late April, there are a few reasons why.
In late April, even though the sun shines longer and brighter, the light intensity on a windowsill may still be insufficient compared to the high indoor temperatures, causing the seedlings to stretch (become leggy). During this period, you must carefully monitor the temperature both day and night. The easiest way to regulate it is through regular ventilation.
Tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, and onions require a regular supply of fresh air and can tolerate slight drafts. However, ventilating rooms with cucurbit seedlings (cucumbers, squash) must be done very carefully, as they are extremely sensitive to cold drafts. By April, tomato, pepper, and eggplant plants are quite large and may start shading each other, which also triggers stem elongation.
At the first signs of stretching, you can take several steps to prevent the formation of thin, weak seedlings:
1. Space the pots further apart so that the leaves of neighboring plants do not touch each other.
2. If the seedlings are growing in communal trays, transplant them into individual pots, and move potted seedlings into larger containers. This technique stimulates root system development, temporarily slowing down the growth of the above-ground parts.
3. For tomato seedlings, you can carefully snip off the bottom 1-2 true leaves. This reduces mutual shading and creates mild stress, which stops upward stretching. (Note: do not use this pruning method on peppers and eggplants!)
4. Along with these measures, slightly reduce watering, making sure, of course, not to let the plants wilt completely.