Multiple veggie plants per 6-pack cell?

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JohnCrichton75 League City, TX(Zone 9a) Apr 09, 2011

I went ahead and bought okra and cucumber plants today from the local FM. The plants were in 6-packs, but each cell contained two plants. The vendor said that I could thin out or plant as-is and the dominant plant would ultimately take over.

I've never grown cucumbers before so I do not know what to expect by not thinning. I have grown okra before and I know the plants can get 6' tall easy, with lots of leaves, so I am suspicious about letting the two plants grow so close.

Thoughts and comments? What do you do? Could I get more production with two plants?

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HoneybeeNC Charlotte, NC(Zone 7b) Apr 10, 2011

JohnCrichton75 - the problem with trying to separate them is that you could damage the roots to the point that neither would survive. Personally, I would snip off one.

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LiseP San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) Apr 11, 2011

I'm no expert, but I'd tend to let the soil mix be your guide. If you take out the cell and the mixture just falls off the seedlings, it might be very doable to separate them, as they pretty much separate themselves. And I know I'm always tempted to save them all -- it is a weakness of mine.

But if it comes out in a block, or they seem stuck together or firmly intertwined, do as HoneybeeNC suggests and snip one. Better to have one than none.

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behillman Plantersville, TX(Zone 9a) Apr 14, 2011

I would water them well while in the 6-pack, & then carefully separate them, leaving dirt on the roots. This is easy to do if you do it slowly & carefully. I do it all the time.

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