![]() When seedling is lifted, plant in new pot and gently firm soil.Do not pull the seedling, just guide it gently as you lift it from pot.Insert dibble or stick into soil and lift the seedling.Hold seedling gently by one of the leaves.Make sure that soil is moist before you separate seedlings.You want to work fast and not expose the roots any longer than necessary when you thin your seedlings. Be organised: You need to have seedlings, pots, potting mix and tools prepared and ready.There are however a few key points that you need to be aware of. Pricking out seedlings is more fiddly that difficult. There will also be one seedling (or more) that is weaker.Īnd if you try to prick out seedlings with several pairs of true leaves, you risk damaging the roots of the dominant as well as the weaker other seedlings. Typically, in any given pot, you will have one seedling that is dominant and that is clearly the strongest seedling. If you wait too long, there is a risk that the seedlings have intertwined roots. Ideally, the thinned seedlings should have no more than one set of true leaves. ![]() When to prick out seedlingsĭo not wait too long if you are planning to prick out your seedlings. Pricking out is most useful for separating seedlings that have no more than one set of true leaves. We prick out many different seedlings ranging from densely sown basil to kale and Swiss chard. Pricking out works great for young and thin seedlings at the early stages of development. And each method is used for a specific situation and purpose. Over the years I have formulated three methods that work for me when dealing with crowded seedlings. Instead we transplant seedlings at all stages of development to our outdoors garden bed. The baby greens, lettuce, arugula (rocket), spinach, kale, and Swiss chard we plant is harvested for salads but also transplanted into our vegetable garden when there is space to fill.Īnd with seedlings at hand, we never have to wait for seeds to germinate in our vegetable garden bed. An example would be the leafy greens we sow in grow bags. I often transplant seedlings that have grown 2 or even 3 sets of true leaves. For one thing, available space can be a real problem if you have to give all seeds that germinate and sprout their own pot after just a few weeks. The reason to thin out early is of course that the roots are not yet large enough to be intertwined as you prick out seedlings growing close together.īut for me, it is not always practical to thin out seedlings early. ![]() And by that we mean when the seedlings have no more than one set of true leaves. One of the first gardening courses I took taught me to thin out seedlings early. The simplest way to avoid too many seedlings in a small space is to look for information about proper spacing requirements on the seed packet. The easiest answer is that you do not want your seedlings to compete for nutrients, water and light.Īnd by separating your seedlings you ensure that each seedling is given the best possible conditions to grow and develop. Here in this article you will learn three distinctly different ways to thin out your seedlings started indoors.Įach method serves a specific purpose and situation and when you master them all, you are set for greatness in your home garden. To be successful as a home gardener you need to master the skill of thinning out seedlings without damaging – or even killing – your plants.Īnd even if it is fiddly work, the good news is that thinning out is a skill that anyone can learn and master. ![]()
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