Am I the only one who feels awful when you thin your seedlings down to the strongest plant?

When I start seedlings, I usually place 2 or 3 seeds into each cell of a four pack. Sometimes all 3 will sprout and after their true leaves appear; I will select the strongest one and cut the others with a pair of scissors. When I cut the others, I feel awful, like I am committing murder. I feel the same way when I plant directly into the garden with multiple seeds and have to select the strongest.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

Kim

Kim

I have lots of onions, potatoes, and sugar snap peas out now, but nothing else that can be hurt by the frost. I also have planted early corn already too, but it hasn't come up yet. The onions, potatoes and peas are up and growing. The peas are doing great this year and are about 3" - 4" tall. I pre sprouted them this year in my house using a pan and a wet towel, then when the sprouts appeared I planted them. This way I got a much high success rate then before.

Last Friday we got frost, so I hate putting anything out for another week weeks. In the mean time, I am putting down some old horse manure on my garden where I will be planting corn, and building some raised beds out of some old decking material I got from a house that was sold and the new older didn't want the above ground pool anymore.

I live 1 mile from one of the largest greenhouse operations in Illinois which is open. So lots of time, I go there and just walk around in one of the 12 - 20 greenhouses if I can not work in my garden. I never buy from them because they are too expensive, but I like just walking around in the place.

Last year I returned home from living in China for a few years were I got my heart broken. So in order to "get over" a broken heart I increased the size of my garden by 400% and went on a soil improvement effort, so there is plently of things to do.

I am planting peas this year too, but have not put them out yet. I was planning on putting them out mid may. Can it be done now? I'm South of Chicago, so i guess so. Yay!

As for the soil improvement, do you have a compost bin? Mine is really simple, but is almost as rewarding as the gardening itself.

Kim

Very funny about jerky seedlings. For me it’s a little different I was told every time I refused to buy something like a $4K Louis Vuitton handbag or a paid vacation to America for her parents or a Rolex Watch that I was being cheap and working in a garden was only for low class people.

Sure Sugar Snap peas should have been put out weeks ago although I do not know what type you are growing. I think I put my first bunch out on March 31, then another group 2 weeks ago, and my last bunch at the start of this week. I live around the Manteno & Grant Park area and I think I will be planting some more corn by the end of the week and putting out some seedlings.

No, I do not have a compost bin; you need to think on a little "bigger" term for my gardening. I bring in horse and cow manure by the trailer loads.

Well, my WalMart Timex watch is telling me it’s time to go outside before dinner.

Mine is much smaller, but I enjoy it's simplicity. So not just for lower class. It's where I run when things are stressful or technology gets overwhelming. :) Too bad about the money issue. I'd never want a purse that expensive... except maybe if I could haul garbage "treasures" home in it for the 'post.

But on the topic of the original question, my seedlings are three weeks old now. Can I repot all of them, harden them off, and let the sun do the work until I plant them in the garden? I only have on shoplight strip, and there's no way all my tomatoes are going to fit under it after transplanting.

Kim

I will put a few seedlings out this Friday myself, (2 tomatoes and 2 cucumbers) just a few to make sure I can cover them quickly if I hear Tom Skilling from WGN TV tell me there is going to be frost or near frost conditions.

We are having a very warm and dry spring. I am sure there will be another frost, but with just a few seedlings I think I can keep them properly covered when it gets too cold. I do not think we will be getting another "hard" freeze (below 30) this year.

Good Luck

Now I am lazy, if the manure or firewood isn't within a few miles of my house I pass on it. There were times when I would travel 45 - 60 minutes for a load, but that was when gas was $1 per gallon.

Thanks !

FYI the 33 behind your name "Sleepy" is a special number for me..... that's how I became "drafted" ! That was my draft lottery number ! ! ! That was a long time ago and all worked out for the best.

Thanks again.... have a nice day.

Well, I hope I am not starting the thought that we should not kill weeds. ;-)

I truly try not to plant too many in pot. (Some times thats very hard to do) There are just too many seeds & not enough room for them all. Its a curse...I'm a seed junkie
LOL!

Last year I think about 60+ plants ended up in the compost pile because I didn't have time to plant them all (way too ambitious in consideration of reality). This year, I'm making room for everything or giving it away ahead of time.

Not sure who came up with the concept of thinning but I've decided that's one technique I'll have no part of. :)

I would much rather have too many an thin than to have just enough and worry about some not making it.

I put one seed into each pot and plant a couple more pots than I want. It's rare to not have all seeds germinate and if a couple of seeds don't, well, then, I'm still covered.

If not enough germinate, I put another seed into the pot and try again. Or better yet, obtain some better fresher seed and do a couple more starts.

Quick poll. How many of you routinely put 4 seeds into a pot and only get one plant to come up? If I put 4 seeds into a pot, I get 4 seedlings.

It's like you're throwing seeds away and it's not like seed is cheap. Instead of cutting off your seedlings, save the seed for next year.

Don't zip the bag closed. Place it is a warm, not hot place.

When the root grabs the paper towel (not that often), I simply take a pair of scissors and cut out a little chunk of paper towel around the seedling and plant paper towel and all.

I just lay the seeds on top of the towel, so I can see then through the plastic and check on them every day without disturbing them.