Seedlings-"true leaves"??

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latelybloomin77 Kilgore, TX(Zone 8a) Apr 14, 2008

How do you know "true leaves" on seedlings? Do you snip the first ones off so they grow again? Is it after after 3 weeks? This is my 1st experience, so not very sure what to expect or if there's something I need to do!

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Apr 14, 2008

The true leaves are the 2nd ones that come out--first thing you'll see when the seedlings sprout is the seed leaves (cotyledons), then the next set of leaves that comes is the first set of true leaves. I've found that depending on the conditions and depending on the type of seed sometimes they seem to sit there with just their seed leaves for a while, while other times it seems like the true leaves come very quickly. They'll come out on their own when they're ready, no snipping necessary. And don't snip off the seed leaves, they have food stored to nourish the seedling as it gets started.

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latelybloomin77 Kilgore, TX(Zone 8a) Apr 14, 2008

Thanks so much ecrane! I'll listen to you w/my seedlings! But....sure wish I read your reply before I pulled off 1st leaves on my squash plant from Loews! I am pretty sure I just killed it. So delicate! Tried to snip off leaves on bottom that didn't look like true leaves....w/my fingernail....didn't work well, split stem! Boo hoo.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Apr 14, 2008

The plants at Lowes are big enough that they don't need seed leaves anymore, I thought you were starting things from seed and wanting to snip off the seed leaves in hopes that it would make the true leaves come--that's a big no-no. But once the plant is larger and has several sets of true leaves it doesn't need the seed leaves anymore, usually they'll just fall off on their own but sometimes they don't. However it doesn't hurt anything to leave them on, and as you found out you definitely don't want to risk damaging the plant trying to take them off!

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latelybloomin77 Kilgore, TX(Zone 8a) Apr 14, 2008

I knowww, won't do that again! But yes, I have many started from seed, but then I get impatient & just buy what I see at Lowes or wherever, to have a started one too! I buy my plants at all different stages, just hopefully not on it's last leg, stage!!

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