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When should I thin out my lettuce seedlings?
Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, you’ll need to ‘thin’ them, reducing crowding in the row. Thinning your plants gives them space to grow to larger leaves and dense hearts.
How big should seedlings be before thinning?
Seedlings should have at least two pairs of true leaves and be about 3 to 4 inches (8-10 cm.) tall before thinning. Evening hours are a good time to thin seedlings as the cooler temps and darker conditions make it easier for the remaining seedlings to bounce back from any stress they may have received.
How tall should lettuce be before thinning?
The best approach is to plant seeds in a row, then wait until sprouts reach a few inches in height; most leaf lettuces should be thinned to about 4 to 6 inches apart, but check the information on the seed packet to confirm the desired distance.
What happens if you don’t Thin seedlings?
Thinning seedlings helps them develop and grow stronger and faster. Seedlings not thinned have small stems and a leggy appearance. When seedlings grow in a tight cluster (crowded plants) they fight for light and grow spindly.
How do you thin seedlings without killing them?
Wiggle the knife as you oh so gently tug on the seedling to help loosen it. It will pull free and have a beautiful little root. Sometimes you will get more than one to come out, just gently untangle the roots from each other. If you are careful it won’t do any harm to either seedling.
Should you thin lettuce plants?
Regardless of the types of lettuce you grow, thinning lettuce seedlings is a task that must be done again and again. In comparison, thinning lettuce every few days so that the plants enjoy steady, exuberant growth will give you bigger plants that hold in the garden until hot weather comes along to spoil to party.
Can you plant lettuce close together?
Generally, you should space plants far enough apart so that they can grow to full size. However, many gardeners plant lettuce much closer together, preferring to harvest leaves continuously before they reach full size. The plants adapt to their spacing.
Can you replant thinned seedlings?
When the seedlings have developed their second set of true leaves, it’s time to transplant or thin them. If you don’t need many plants, you can thin them in place: just pinch or snip off the excess seedlings, leaving the remaining ones spaced about 2 inches apart. Water the transplant right away.
How big do lettuce seedlings need to be?
Romaine and butterhead lettuce seedlings require 6 to 8 inches between each plant. Removed seedlings can be transplanted or eaten as delicious, tender microgreens. Head lettuce is usually grown from seeds started indoors during warm weather for a fall garden.
Should I thin my seedlings?
As painful as it may be, it is best to thin your seedlings down to the one healthiest sprout per cell space or container after the first couple sets of true leaves appear. Thinning is a very important step in the seed-starting process to result in the most healthy, successful plants possible!Feb 12, 2019.
What happens if you don’t thin lettuce seedlings?
Leaf lettuce varieties that are too crowded may end up with a bitter flavor. So thinning out your plants will give them the best taste.
What happens if you plant seedlings too close together?
Plants that grow too close to each other compete for the same sunlight, water and soil nutrients. The first effect seen is competition for light. Overcrowded plants begin to grow upward to receive light, rather than developing a fuller, bushier silhouette.
What do you do when you have too many seedlings?
If you get more than one in one pot, just cut them off without disturbing the main seedling. Be very gentle with the seedling and do not disturb the roots. I know, it is hard to cut off a healthy seedling, but planting them together will bring you less than one healthy seedling would.
Can you move lettuce seedlings?
Transplanting: Seedlings started indoors can be planted outside after danger of severe frost has passed. From trays or modules harden off and plant out under fleece. Place the seedling plug in the hole and firm gently around the roots, water well.
How do you transplant lettuce seedlings to bigger pots?
Handle the seedlings only by their leaves, never by their stems. Plant them into their new containers deeper than they were growing, gently firming the growing media around their roots. Planting them all the way up to the first set of leaves is fine to do.
When should I thin out tomato seedlings?
TIPS FOR THINNING TOMATO SEEDLINGS: Tomato plants are ready for thinning when seedlings reach 2-3 weeks of age or approximately 3-4 inches in height. When choosing which seedlings to pull and which to leave, keep the larger, more-developed seedlings and remove weaker, smaller seedlings.
Do you water seedlings everyday?
Seedlings aren’t able to store water for very long, so they need soil that is constantly moist. This means watering them a few times a day, depending on how quickly they dry out. Test your seedling’s soil with the end of a finger to about an inch deep. If the soil is dry, your seedling needs water.
What does thin to mean on seed packets?
What does thin to mean on seed packets? This means that you should give plants enough space to grow by removing weaker looking seedlings. Thinning (thin out) is removing seedlings that are too close together to create more space.
