Should I separate the seedlings?

These little Alyssum Royal Carpet seeds sprang up out of the peat pods so fast! They're supposed to be low, spreading plants, and I have some shallow 9" ovoid shaped pots to put them in. Do I need to/should I bother to separate the seedings?

I tried to only plant four or five seeds in each pod (I didn't think they'd all grow, the seeds were so teeny!) Should I pinch some off so there's not too many plants in the pots?

I've included pix of the seedlings, and some of the pots (before I glazed the outsides) they're going in... any suggestions? (The bigger pot in the back is going to have dwarf pansies in it...)

The seedlings should be thinned out. They need room for root development and air circulation. If you keep all of them in there, they will have to fight for the nutrients in the soil. Hard to say good-bye to the seedlings, but it's for the best. If you try seperating the seedlings and replanting, it might damage the roots and you might lose all of them.

Wow! I didn't expect a response so fast, Thanks XMelissaX!

So, I should just pull out seedlings, leaving just one per pod to transplant to a pot? Will one seedling per pot really spread enough to fill it?

Wow... Nature!

I like to leave two per pot in case one doesn't make it. But make sure they are two that are not touching each other or really close. Yeah, they look small when they first germinate but it's amazing what they grow into.....

Alyssum don't really need to be thinned. In nature they grow in clumps. I rarely thin seedlings that I plant - I like a nice full pot.

DaletheGardener-beautiful Alyssum. I don't thin much when I direct sow outside, but when I start indoors they seem to do much better. Were these sown outdoors?

Melissa,

They are Greenhouse grown, then planted out. I never thin the seed I plant, except for vegetables. And I never grow vegetables anymore.

Your alyssum are beautiful, Dale! Yours look like the taller kind... the picture on my packet are for little 3" purple ones. Burpee's Royal Carpet. I can't wait for little pots full of of tiny flowers!

I have some cherry tomato seedlings growing in peat pellets. Thinned half of them to 1 seedling per pellet and the other half I left 2 seedlings per pellet. It seemed like such a waste, overall cutting out 13 seedlings. They really took off in the 3 weeks since sowing. Plan on transplanting these into 3" peat pots to provide more room for growth before its time for outside. Peat pellet package suggests to do this after 2 sets of true leaves form, 4 true leaves total correct?

1) How should I separate the 2 seedlings per pellet when I transplant? Was thinking of cutting them in half to get 2 separate seedlings?

2) Going to plant the pellet entire stem down in soil of the peat pots since roots grow out of the buried stems for tomato plants, should this soil be "soil less" seed starting mix or is the bagged potting soil mix used for the final outdoor pots a better choice? I was originally going to use potting soil mix, but maybe the "seed less" seed starting mix would be better as it's lighter and won't hinder root development?

My opinion is that you don't have to have one plant per pot. 2 or 3 is fine also. I have never been big on industrial gardening - one plant per place, long rows of one species, no weeds (no matter how beautiful the weed)

eye candy>

Thanks DaleThe Gardener,

-Should I separate them when I transplant into the the larger peat pots by cutting/carefully tearing in half the peat pellets with the two seedling.

-Use the potting soil (Ace brand) they will eventually go into large outdoor pots with, or some seed starting mix I have?

The tomato seedlings are ready for the larger 3" peat pots and have two sets of true leaves. But, will be kept indoors in a South facing sliding glass door until night time temperatures dictate.


-Related question is how to thin out other seedlings and eventually transplant to peat pots that seem to be progressing (small first true leaves) but are very tiny. Astilbe seedlings in particular?
Maybe I should make this a separate thread?

This message was edited Apr 24, 2009 3:55 PM

Physeek,

When seperating seedlings the goal is get the largest root system with each 'survivor'.

Your tomato transplants will grow roots on the buried stems in any good pot soil.

If your nighttime temps are above 50 it is time to get your plants in the ground, isn't it?