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Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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Posted by
lucilleclifton Zone 4 (
My Page) on
Fri, Apr 18, 14 at 15:14
This is like picking the favorite child. Which tomato seedling do I pull? I already pulled the teeny third one you see in the middle.
Also, these are my cole crops that I had to stop hardening off this week due to cold temps and snow. Do I need to worry about transplanting any of these to larger containers, do you think? I had hoped to have them planted out by now, but given that I have to start almost totally over with hardening off, they probably won't go out for at least another week and a half.
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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| WHy not just seperate them? |
RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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That's what I did, just separated them. I don't know if I did it "right" but they are still alive and putting on new growth. I soaked mine in a dish of water and carefully loosened the roots. I feel like I got bonus plants! kim |
RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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| I could, but I have very limited space in my raised beds, so I hate to plant two tomatoes of the same variety. Why is it so hard to kill something you've nurtured?!?! |
RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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| I wouldn't transplant your cole crops, next stop....garden. Next time you try transplanting something like your tomatoes, try it with dry soil...its lots easier, and less messier. The plants won't mind...I promise. The soil falls away from the roots much easier too :) |
RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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| I would keep the strongest looking plant in each pot. Pull (when smaller) or cut the rest. After a while you get used to tossing extra plants. I agree with Mitch about the dry soil...much easier on the roots. |
RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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- Posted by ZachS z5 Littleton, CO (My Page) on
Tue, Apr 22, 14 at 8:37
| I separate unless I absolutely have to thin. Usually a neighbor, friend, relative, or possibly even folks near you here on GW will take them off your hands when garden space is at a premium. |
RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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| When I plant my own seed I may have too many seedlings and I don't separate them. I just clip the weaker ones with the scissors and transplant the whole rootball as one plant. I've never been keen on separating when unnecessary. With tomatoes a second clipping may be necessary in a few days. |
RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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| I used to have the same problems years ago and could never bring myself to ditch any of the seedlings. One year I ended up with about 70 tomato plants and had only needed about 5. Lesson learned! Now, I only put one seed per pot or cell. Though, I still end up with too many plants and simply give them away to friends. But when I pot them up into bigger pots before transplanting them into the garden, I try to have the soil not too try and not too wet. It's a fine line but when it's perfect, the soil holds together while moving the plant and the roots are not disturbed at all. |
RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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| Thanks for the thread. It looks like I may need to separate mine too before they get too big and inter-mingled to the point where it becomes hard to separate them. |

RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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| Ugh, I also just realized that beet seeds produce multiple viable seedlings from an individual seed, so I have some beet dividing to do also! I need to get some additional little pots tonight and give it a shot. |
RE: Seedlings getting big. A few questions...
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| Wow, I have never heard that beets produce multiple seedlings. I just looked it up and apparently beet seeds are actually capsules with multiple seeds inside. Fascinating! Thanks for sharing, lucilleclifton! |
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