How and when to thin?

[mrbadexample]

Hello all.

These are my swedelings:





Obviously, they will require thinning out at some point. But when? Now? When they're a bit bigger? Are there some basic rules I can follow, or is it different for different veg?

And are there any techniques I can employ to minimise the damage? I've got a touch like a rhino at the best of times.

[zazen999]

Why don't you dig them out, and transplant [using the seed leaves to hold them, gently dib a hole, drop root in to seed leaf level, and push soil back in firmly] with about 10cm in between each seedling. As they are round, do it in a pattern so that it 'tessalates' with 10cm between each plant.

Like this:[if it works]

x x x x
xx x x
x x x x

[mrbadexample]

Well, I could have a go, if you think it'd work? I was under the impression that root veg don't like being moved?

[zazen999]

Carrots and Parsnips - don't. But swedes are fine as they develop above ground - more or less.

Be gentle with them and they should be fine!

[Pumpkin Becki]

And make sure your lines are nice and straight, eh Zazy - if its not a right angle, its a wrong angle

[zazen999]

I'm a 60 degrees kinda gal, as you know Bumpkin ;

[mrbadexample]

Ok. Just to make sure I've covered all the bases, is there a favoured time of day to thin & replant?

[Two_Sheds]

Swedes aren't roots, they're brassicas

(and imho, you have too many blue Smarties on the ground: less is more)

[zazen999]

Ok. Just to make sure I've covered all the bases, is there a favoured time of day to thin & replant?

I do it in the evening so that they have the night to recover - esp as it's been so hot these last few days.

[womble]

But if you are talking about seedlings that don't need to be moved spatially, then you want to snip off the unwanted ones at the soil level, this will stop the seedling you want to remain, roots being damaged. IYSWIM.
I do this on the bigger brassicas where I multisow per module.

[mrbadexample]

But if you are talking about seedlings that don't need to be moved spatially, then you want to snip off the unwanted ones at the soil level, this will stop the seedling you want to remain, roots being damaged. IYSWIM.
I do this on the bigger brassicas where I multisow per module.

I thought that was a good tip. Then I read your sig.

[mrbadexample]

Swedes aren't roots, they're brassicas

They're root veg in Morrison's. The buggers'll never grow anyway - I don't seem to have much luck with swede. Mrbadexample snr reckons you need a field to grow them properly. I want to prove him wrong.

(and imho, you have too many blue Smarties on the ground: less is more)

Ooo...I thought I'd been quite sparing. You should see next door - you can sometimes see brown bits between the blue.

[womble]

I thought that was a good tip. Then I read your sig.

That's zazan p1ssing about, I think I may have said it once......... I let it stay so she thinks she's in charge


I would have thought you would have had a different avatar on this site? Go on, be a little different.

[mrbadexample]

I would have thought you would have had a different avatar on this site? Go on, be a little different.

Good god no! I'd get all confused and forget who I was.

In fact if everyone I know from "other" fora would identify themselves, then I might have some sort of idea as to what's what. And no, I really can't be bothered to try and work it out.

[womble]

There is a very good reason people have different identities on different sites. It stops people being followed around the net.