Thinning Out Plants

AlittleSalt · March 25, 2017

The varieties you see in the trays have little bitty seeds. I overplanted and it looks like every seed germinated. I'm thinking, they need to be thinned out. My idea is to take a pair of tweezers and very gently remove some of them.

Is there a better way to thin them out? Other ideas?

Gardeneer · March 25, 2017

get a pair of small scissors and cut them at the soil level. I prefer it over pulling at close proximity to the others.

Interestingly my Oregano germinated like that too. But I will try to separate them instead of culling. I love Oregano.

Worth1 · March 25, 2017

I used to hate oregano until I started using Mexican oregano.
Mexican oregano isn't really oregano but it doesn't give me heartburn.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_oregano

Worth

AlittleSalt · March 25, 2017

Cutting them with scissors sounds like the right thing to do.

When I was much younger, I didn't like oregano either. But my tastes changed.

Deborah · March 25, 2017

Hey! Just lately I've been thinking how weird it is that there are some foods I've always loved and now not so much or not at all. Avocados, asparagus, green beans and radishes. Yet I'm CRAVING really sweet oranges and red grapefruit. I wonder why?

Father'sDaughter · March 25, 2017

Unless you've already taken the scissors to them, leave the oregano and thyme as is. They grow more like ground cover does -- low and spreading, so you really want more than one plant. When it's time to transplant them, divide them into clumps and put one clump in a container.

The basil you can thin by cutting.

I've never grown catnip, so can't help with that one.

KarenO · March 25, 2017

And don't forget to eat anything you cut from either.

beautiful flavour right from the smallest seedling stage.
I would dig out little clumps with a teaspoon and pot the little clumps up rather than try to separate individual plants.
Karen

Worth1 · March 25, 2017

I didn't use to like fat but now I do.
I dont know whether I started liking fat and got fat or got fat and started liking fat.
Worth

AlittleSalt · March 25, 2017

I haven't thinned them out. I ran out of gas (not the car) ... me.

rhines81 · March 25, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

I haven't thinned them out. I ran out of gas (not the car) ... me.

It's ok to run out of gas. When you run out of rum, then there is a problem!

pmcgrady · March 25, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I didn't use to like fat but now I do.
I dont know whether I started liking fat and got fat or got fat and started liking fat.
Worth

If I was young again... I'd have a small herd of Wagyu (straight out of Japan) and a small herd of Illinois Black Angus. Fat = Flavor
A fat marbled steak... hand picked at a Chicago Italian Steakhouse... served by male waiters... wearing white aprons... and all the patrons look like/act like they are all Soprano's!

AlittleSalt · March 25, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhines81

It's ok to run out of gas. When you run out of rum, then there is a problem!

You got it. Vodka bottles seem to have a hole in them. It must be a slow leak because I don't see anything wet on the bar around it. hmm...

Worth1 · March 25, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

If I was young again... I'd have a small herd of Wagyu (straight out of Japan) and a small herd of Illinois Black Angus. Fat = Flavor
A fat marbled steak... hand picked at a Chicago Italian Steakhouse... served by male waiters... wearing white aprons... and all the patrons look like/act like they are all Soprano's!

I miss the good ole days when cattle and steaks were loaded with fat.

The good fat that solidified in you mouth if you drank something cold.
Kidney fat from the porter house.

Nan_PA_6b · March 26, 2017

As a kid, I'd pull apart a piece of chuck roast string by string to scrape out all that nasty fat. Never ate fat, never will. Except bacon, of course.

Nan

rhines81 · March 27, 2017

When I broadcast seed in a tray like this, I just use a spoon and dig, dig, dig until everything is loose. Then I just grab each plant by the base and if another one comes with the clump, I shake it loose.
If you are only going to grow 20% of what you planted, you can be pretty ruthless when you do this.

March 25, 2017	#2
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	get a pair of small scissors and cut them at the soil level. I prefer it over pulling at close proximity to the others. Interestingly my Oregano germinated like that too. But I will try to separate them instead of culling. I love Oregano. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

March 25, 2017	#5
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	Hey! Just lately I've been thinking how weird it is that there are some foods I've always loved and now not so much or not at all. Avocados, asparagus, green beans and radishes. Yet I'm CRAVING really sweet oranges and red grapefruit. I wonder why? __________________ "The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10 Last edited by Deborah; March 25, 2017 at 09:09 PM. Reason: Dang typos...

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March 25, 2017	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I used to hate oregano until I started using Mexican oregano. Mexican oregano isn't really oregano but it doesn't give me heartburn. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_oregano Worth

March 25, 2017	#4
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Cutting them with scissors sounds like the right thing to do. When I was much younger, I didn't like oregano either. But my tastes changed.

March 25, 2017	#6
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Unless you've already taken the scissors to them, leave the oregano and thyme as is. They grow more like ground cover does -- low and spreading, so you really want more than one plant. When it's time to transplant them, divide them into clumps and put one clump in a container. The basil you can thin by cutting. I've never grown catnip, so can't help with that one.

March 25, 2017	#7
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	And don't forget to eat anything you cut from either. beautiful flavour right from the smallest seedling stage. I would dig out little clumps with a teaspoon and pot the little clumps up rather than try to separate individual plants. Karen

March 26, 2017	#14
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	As a kid, I'd pull apart a piece of chuck roast string by string to scrape out all that nasty fat. Never ate fat, never will. Except bacon, of course. Nan

March 27, 2017	#15
rhines81 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Zone 5A, Poconos Posts: 959	When I broadcast seed in a tray like this, I just use a spoon and dig, dig, dig until everything is loose. Then I just grab each plant by the base and if another one comes with the clump, I shake it loose. If you are only going to grow 20% of what you planted, you can be pretty ruthless when you do this.