I saw some tips around sowing multiple seeds per cell so at least one seed germinates in each cell, and then one either thins the weaker seedlings or carefully separates them while potting them up. I’m still very early in my gardening education, so I thought that’s cool, I’ll take this approach for my cucumber starts b/c hey why not, and since the thought of thinning seedlings kinda kills my soul, I’ll just carefully separate them when I pot them up; however, everything I’m now reading about cucumbers is that they don’t transplant well and they’re more sensitive to root shock than other crops like tomatoes and peppers. Is thinning each cell down to one the way to go for these cucumber starts or is there hope for my soul? Not that I even have enough pots to move them all into anyway, but where there’s a will there’s a way…

Further reading/watching:

  • clew@ecoevo.social
    2·
    2 months ago

    Not absolutely, but it’s finickier than the other approach (pinch off the weaker plant in each cell, up-pot when the cells are root knit). Sowing thickly and separating tiny is often called “pricking out” if that helps.

    If you want to separate, don’t let the cells get root bound.

    Nb: stem more vital than leaves, and as fragile when tiny; handle by leaves or root ball.

    Apologies if this was not a request for advice!

    @yo_scottie_oh