First time vegetable/herb planting

Hello (this is my first post)

This looked like a great place to ask my questions. First off, this is my first time growing anything. I've germinated most of my seeds already, both indoors and out, with a very high success rate so far (which I'm excited about).

1. I planted more then one seed per peat pot and now have multiple plants growing in each tiny pot. For some it's only one, some two and others have three. I'm mostly concerned with the larger plants (cucumber, crooked neck squash) at the moment. Could or should I separate these plants? Will one die if I move it at this early stage? Is it o.k. to grow them together in such small pots? Any answer would be greatly appreciated. I guess I just wasn't expecting all my seeds to germinate as they have.

2. I was originally going to creat a small 8x4 or so, no dig plot outside my house (only lived here about 3 weeks). Recently I noticed a lot of bunnies digging up my yard and roaming around outside at night. I'm worried that if I plant these as I had planned the bunnies will eat my veggies! Can veggies be grown in containers? Would this be easier and safer for me?

Again, any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks is advance.

Welcome to the wonderful world of veggie gardening! I was an Uber newbie once, too, so glad 2 "pass it forward". Learn well by reading the posts, identifying and following a few successful gardeners, and experimenting some on your own to get the hang of things. 1. "Thin is in." It'll seem like murder 2 snip your seedlings, but you'll learn down the line that it's generally only one seedling per peat pot or seed tray. (and, since you're just getting started, go to the Self-Contained Box Gardens forum and read all you can about a product called coco coir. There's a thread called Any Coco Coir Questions and its in 2 parts already, maybe 3! Then check out a website called Instagarden.com). Now, choose the healthiest one of your seedlings and pinch or snip the others off. It's survival of the fittest! 2. I don't have bunny problems, but post thia question as a New thread and you'll get specific answers. My DH worships his precious grass so I have only one small raised bed that I use very strategically. The real engine of my garden is my 9 patented Earthboxes (EBs) and my 9 home made earthbuckets (eBuckets). I'm not so far removed from the newbie stage when it comes to veggies other than heirloom tomatoes which I've grown successfully since fall of 2007. Last Thanksgiving was my first cole crop of winter veggies and either I'm a genius or just blessed cause everything grew beautifully! I grew mustard and collard greens in the EBs. We ate em for Christmas and New Years, and I picked 3 more harvests past NYs Day to freeze. (end Part 1)

This message was edited May 14, 2009 4:29 AM

Part 2. I grew broccoli, cabbages, and cauliflowers in the 5-gallon eBuckets (I made 'em). I grew Swiss Chard, multiplying onions, 2 other varieties of mustard greens, in 24" planters. I grew purple top turnips, carrots and lettuce in the small raised bed (4-1/2 x 5-1/2 ft), and Chioggia and Bull's Blood beets in 1 4x3' raised bed. Yes, Virginia, you can grow veggies in containers! So, come on over 2 the self-container veggies thread and start reading up. You'll get many answers just perusing some of the threads. Hook up with some of the experienced Floridians there especially BocaBob, TPlant, and Airies44 (Flip). And watch Joy's phenominal firsttime garden. She's container all the way and cranking out beauties for a beginner! We Zone 8b-9a folks are checking our seed lists and getting ready 2 sow our cole crop seeds. I'm praying 2 duplicate my success and double my harvest this fall. Hope I've been helpful! Feel free 2 use me as a source. If I don't know, we can find the answer together. Godspeed and Good Harvest! Linda

I too, am finally starting my first garden. What I can tell you about multiple germination per pot is don't try and transplant them!! Just snip off the small ones and leave the big one (or the one that looks most healthy).

I did the same thing as you, I planted tomatoes and cucumbers in some peat pellets and when I got multiple plants coming up I got excited. Like you, I thought that I didn't want to "waste" the ones that came up so I tried gently transplanting the multiples to another container...bad idea...most of them died the next day and now I only have a few left and I'm not even sure if they will make it! I've since learned that cucumbers are very picky, ha ha.

But maybe some experienced people here might know how to do it without killing them?

I direct sow my cucumbers right into the garden. They don't seem to like being transplanted all that much. I killed quite a few before I figured that one out - lol.

Congratulations on the first garden you two!! The best advice I can give is to give it a shot! If it doesn't work, try another way. That's how I learned - lol.

Kelly

Oh, and HAVE FUN... most important

Have fun and plant lots and lots of squash so I'm not the only one with excess! Just kidding about the squash.

Good luck with your garden.

The first leaves to appear are called cotyledons. The true leaves appear a little later. When transplanting, always hold the little plants by their cotyledons, not by their stalks. Even if you are very, very careful, you might damage the stem and the seedlings will die. After your seedlings have been transplanted and are doing well, the cotyledons can be removed as the plants have no further use for them.

As for the bunnies - well if I were a bunny - how could I pass up a free lunch?! In other words: Yes they will eat your veggies!

Thanks so much everyone! I will check out the info you gave me.