Thinning Seedlings and Plants
Perhaps one of the hardest tasks in all of the gardening world, is thinning
out seedlings. The chore of thinning seedlings is essential for healthy plant
growth and development, to maximize flower size, and to maximize crop production.
Sure, some types of plants tolerate a little crowding. But, that's the exception,
rather than the rule. Every type of plant will show positive benefits,
when given the proper spacing to maximize their growth.
Haven't got the heart, or the patience, to thin seedlings? Then, space seedlings
properly at planting time. The downside to this approach, is that germination
is rarely 100%,. There may be gaps in your crops.
Every plant has an ideal spacing. If you saved the seed packet, see the spacing
recommendations on the back of the packet. Or, refer to our plant guides.
Tips for Thinning Plants:
Thinning plants can disturb those that you choose to keep. You need to work
carefully. Here is our recommendations how to thin seedlings, with minimal
disturbance to those plants that will remain:
-
Water plants thoroughly prior to thinning plants. Include a light solution
of liquid fertilizer in the water. In addition to providing the plants with
a drink, it will soften the soil, making the task of removing plants along
with roots easier.
-
Identify the proper spacing for the plants.
-
Select the largest and healthiest looking seedlings to keep.
-
Growers often keep the fastest growing plant, even if it is smaller than
others.
-
Grasp the seedling to be culled as close to the ground as possible. Slowly
and gently, pull the plant out of the soil. Try to avoid disturbing remaining
plants.
-
For thinning small seedlings, use a small scissors and snip the seedling
off at ground level. This works very well with seedlings like carrots and
lettuces.
-
After thinning your plants, give the remaining ones another drink of water.
This helps re-distribute soil around the roots.
-
Add more soil, if roots are exposed.
Thinning Indoor Seedlings:
As an avid gardener, you probably love starting seeds indoors for transplanting
later. It's important to thin seedlings in the seed trays and individual
pots.
The steps are identical to those described above. Leaving one plant in each
pot will maximize growth and development for your transplants. It also allows
you to properly space them outdoors at the proper transplanting time.
Thinning Seedlings in a Container Garden:
Nowhere is it more important to give seedlings and plants growing room, than
in container gardens. Indoor transplants are in containers for just a brief
period. Outdoor plants, have the whole garden to grow in, and the roots can
go down as far as they'd like in search of food and moisture.
Container plants live their entire lives, in a much more limited and captive
environment. The plants draw upon limited moisture and nutrients in
the soil of the containers. Their roots may try to spread wider and deeper,
but are constrained by the limits of the container wall. Successful container
gardening, begins with proper plant spacing.
Even with proper spacing, the plants in your container garden need more water
and nutrients than the soil holds. More frequent watering and fertilizing
is a must.
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