How to I make my leggy sunflower seedlings more sturdy?

I germinated and grew them firstly in a greenhouse but left them in too long. I've planted them out now, but they became very leggy (some are about 9 inches tall and are only on their 3rd pair of leaves) so I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to help make them stronger while they're growing and less prone to getting broke when it's windy? They're too small for a cane.



The ones I planted out when they got their first pair of leaves are really solid, still about 9 inches high, but with more pairs of leaves and much thicker stems.

How to I make my leggy sunflower seedlings more sturdy?
Get them on a good fertilizer schedule, lots of water and hopefully they are planted in a nice sunny location. Stake them up until they get a little healthier and you should have tall, strong sun flowers in no time.
Reply:i don't agree with this based on my own experience they don't have to be staked. Report It
Reply:According to two books that I have on the topic of growning plants from seeds, whenever one is attempting to begin plants indoors, one should use a florescent light along with regular lighting to produce the ultra-violet rays (blue from florescent and pink from lightbulbs). Second, the light should be placed about two or three inches above the plant to increase the amount of energy used to develop stems. This works well for our tomatoes. I usually use books on either end of the florescent light to increase it's height.



Don't just sit there, grow something!
Reply:i've had that same situation when i start my own seedlings. make sure they are in really full sun firstly. use those little bamboo stakes to reinforce their stem strength. once they get going you'll be able to remove those and they should be fine on their own.



the bamboo stakes will help them keep from blowing over and breaking until they develop a strong enough root system to support their height.
Reply:First they need a lot of sun and then plant them at least 40 cm (1 1/2) feet apart of anything even fence or bushes or a house. They like lots of water it's not easy if they are on a sun as well, so i suggest a huge backet or anything which u hide under the ground and then water it from the top. Good luck !

Ps: They don't need any bamboo sticks if they have space, they just grow