You can make collars out of paper (or whatever you have handy) and then center the seedling in it and fill with dirt. You'll want to try to take up almost all of the stalk, so they may need to be different heights for each seedling

And any extra light will be beneficial, even just a desk lamp set as close as you can overhead without burning them, usually 3-4 inches is good

And they do grow fast, and especially long and spindly when they're reaching for light

Good luck!

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Oh, we have lots of computer paper! I can make them then. Also that room has two windows on two different walls and the overhead light. I could put the overhead light on all day if that would help them! Normally they'd be in a room with even more light, but that room has little in the way of warmth right now (almost outside temps) so it felt unsafe!

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 points 2 days ago

It's not so much the light, it's that it's far away, and the plants are trying to reach it. Put a light directly above them, and they won't have to stretch. Putting them in a very sunny window is good, too, as long as they don't get burned. The sun puts out enough of the right kind of light that they don't have to stretch for it.

[–] GardenGeek@europe.pub 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I always grow my vegetables on the windowsill. If you have two windows to choose from, pay attention to which direction they face. South-facing windows are best, west and east are also okay, but you should avoid north-facing windows, as they don't get much sunlight.

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

No north windows in that room! South and West there. I can shove them closer to the south window!