fandomhigh | Grow Your Own Garden, Tuesday, Period 6

"Now that the seedlings have sprouted their first set of true leaves, it's time to start thinnin' 'em out. The first little leaves that emerge after a seedling sprouts are the cotyledon, or the seed leave. These often don't look anything at all like smaller versions of the plant's mature leaves. The second set of leaves are the true leaves, and are a little more recognizable, and when you see 'em growin' in, it's time to think about thinnin'. Thinnin' plants just means checkin' over your beds an' removin' any plants growin' too close to the others, which will give the rest a chance to grow better and stronger. Overcrowded plants often grow leggy, which means they basically grow too tall and thin in their search for more water or nutrients, and show signs of stress. Plants that spend too long all stressed out will never produce as well as plants that grew up with plenty of room to grow. This is especially true for root crops. They're extra sensitive to havin' anythin' too close to them, especially other roots."

Mood, little plants. Who doesn't become stressed when they're too closely surrounded by others?

"When you're lookin' for which plants to trim, go for the ones that look skinnier and spindly if you can, and try to keep the healthier and stronger-lookin' ones. If they all look the same, go for the one that frees up the most space for the rest; it's all about doin' your best to give the rest of 'em a fightin' chance. To thin most plants, cut the target seedling across the stem as close to the earth as you can with a pair of sharp scissors or a knife if you're comfortable with that. Don't try to pull the seedlings up completely, as movin' the root systems can damage the underdeveloped roots of other neighborin' seedlings. The exception to that room is when you're thinnin' root veggies, like carrots, radishes, and potatoes, when you do have to remove the whole plant. For that, you grip the stem firmly as close to soil level as possible, while holdin' down the soil firmly with your other hand. Gently pull the plant directly up, while trying not to disturb the soil and any neighborin' plants. And then, once all your plants seem healthy and have room to grow, you're done.

"Now, thinnin' may seem like a terrible waste of good plants, but if you're growing for the kitchen in many cases you can use the thinned seedlings productively. Many edible plants produce shoots with an intense flavor that packs the mature taste into a few tiny leaves. So if you're thinnin' pea shoots, for example, use the snipped seedlings in a salad for a burst of sweet, grassy flavor. The same goes for many herbs, salad leaves, brassica shoots, and lots. If you can eat the mature leaves, then you can eat the thinned shoots too. But take care over tomatoes, potatoes, chillies, and other members of the nightshade family - their leaves and stems often contain. traces of toxins, even at the seedling stage, and so don't be tempted into an experimental nibble. Some other plants can be replanted somewhere else where they have more room to grow, too. Maybe even turn themselves around and become the healthiest plan you've got. Lastly, for all non-edible seedlings, remove the thinnin's to your compost rather than leaving them to rot in place, as some of the more vigorous species can re-root if left on the soil surface."

And that lecture over with, he shooed them off to their garden plots with scissors and knives to begin thinning. "Don't forget to check if they need more water!" he called after them. "It's still been really got, so I'd be surprised if they didn't!"