elaine
Newly Registered
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:45 pm
Location: south carolina

thinning seedlings

Hi everyone. I am a new gardener too, and I have planted corn, green beans and cucumbers. It seems all of my seeds came up, and I am not sure how much to thin the plants. I planted three seeds per hole, and I am not sure whether to leave one plant or two. Help!

opabinia51
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 4659
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
Location: Victoria, BC

Ah yes, when I was a newbie I had that problem as well. Really you should have one plant per hole. Corn should be at least a foot apart and 4 inches deep.

So, just be carefull when pulling the plants out but, definately thin them.

elaine
Newly Registered
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:45 pm
Location: south carolina

Thanks for the instruction. I guess I have lots of work to do today.

opabinia51
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 4659
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
Location: Victoria, BC

You're welcome, yes it's work but, I like to look at work in the garden as therapy and fun. So, enjoy yourself.

I have a tonne of work to do in my garden this weekend as well!

aqh88
Cool Member
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:33 pm
Location: Iowa
Contact: AOL

Save the healthiest looking one from each hole. I tend to thin in stages. If 3 come up I'll pull the slowest growing or least healthy looking one first, wait a few days, and then decide which of the remaining 2 is growing better.

Pepper
Full Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:27 pm
Location: NW Florida

elaine,

I always over plant seeds in anticipation of thinning. I try to thin as early as possible thinking that the longer the plants grow the greater possibility that the root systems have intertwined in hopes of not damaging the lucky winner.

Have fun.



Return to “Vegetable Gardening Forum”