Thinning groupings
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:30 pm
When I replanted somewhat recently (4-6 weeks ago), I placed 2-3 seeds in each location for the more dispersed plants like tomatoes, squash, eggplant, etc. I let most of them get around 6" - 8" tall before thinning, waiting to see which ones do best and which ones get attached by bugs the most with the intent to remove those in the bunch. Based on where I am not (it's thinning time), what is the best way to thin? Do you simply cut them off with a pair of pruners? Should I pull them up (or will the roots potentially be tangled with a neighboring plant - and pull it up also)?
With regard to tomatoes, I have some pairs and some that have three plants growing. I have them spaced about 2' to 3' apart. Should I just let both plants grow, or thin and focus on a single plant?
I have 4 squash plant locations. 2 of the 4 locations have 2 plants growing side by side. Do I need to even thin them to a single plant, or should I just let them both go nuts (or will this ultimately reduce the ability for both to grow)? Based on my past experience, these suckers get HUGE. One my my squash plants grew about 4' tall and was about 4-6' across last year at the ground. The locations are such that the plants have about 2.5-3 feet between them and they can grow out of the bed.
I also have two rows of corn. When I replanted, I placed 1 or 2 seeds in each spot. Almost all of the seeds are now coming up. I have two rows of 8 plants. Plants on a row are about 6" apart. Rows are 18" apart. Do I need thin or can I let the pairs grow together? In a row of 8 plant, I think maybe half of them are sprouting doubles (both seeds planted are sprouting side by side). I had thinned the first row, planted about 2 weeks prior to the 2nd row to a single plant every 6" or so. They are all doing well to date.
I also planted a row of cucumbers next to my trellis. I put two seeds about every 3". Again, nearly every seed has now sprouted. Do these need thinning to a single plant every 3" or so or can I just let both grow? I can still probably pluck the second out at each location without messing up the primary, but all of these are looking really fantastic at this point. I do have room to let some grow along the ground and train the rest up the trellis...
Basically, I just would like to know in each of these conditions if I even need to thin them, and if so, what is the best way to do it? Cutting or plucking...
With regard to tomatoes, I have some pairs and some that have three plants growing. I have them spaced about 2' to 3' apart. Should I just let both plants grow, or thin and focus on a single plant?
I have 4 squash plant locations. 2 of the 4 locations have 2 plants growing side by side. Do I need to even thin them to a single plant, or should I just let them both go nuts (or will this ultimately reduce the ability for both to grow)? Based on my past experience, these suckers get HUGE. One my my squash plants grew about 4' tall and was about 4-6' across last year at the ground. The locations are such that the plants have about 2.5-3 feet between them and they can grow out of the bed.
I also have two rows of corn. When I replanted, I placed 1 or 2 seeds in each spot. Almost all of the seeds are now coming up. I have two rows of 8 plants. Plants on a row are about 6" apart. Rows are 18" apart. Do I need thin or can I let the pairs grow together? In a row of 8 plant, I think maybe half of them are sprouting doubles (both seeds planted are sprouting side by side). I had thinned the first row, planted about 2 weeks prior to the 2nd row to a single plant every 6" or so. They are all doing well to date.
I also planted a row of cucumbers next to my trellis. I put two seeds about every 3". Again, nearly every seed has now sprouted. Do these need thinning to a single plant every 3" or so or can I just let both grow? I can still probably pluck the second out at each location without messing up the primary, but all of these are looking really fantastic at this point. I do have room to let some grow along the ground and train the rest up the trellis...
Basically, I just would like to know in each of these conditions if I even need to thin them, and if so, what is the best way to do it? Cutting or plucking...