I just moved my tomatoes, bell peppers, bok choy, spinach, and eggplants from seed trays to the garden, and they've really taken off since being outside. I planted three sprouts per cell for the peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants, and they're strong but I'm worried they might compete too much. The bok choy and spinach had multiple sprouts per cell as well, and their leaves are getting pretty large. When should I start thinning them out, and can anyone share tips on how to do it effectively? I'm hesitant to cull any healthy plants, especially since their roots are intertwined.
2 Answers
Totally feel you on the thinning guilt! I held off on greening my tomatoes and basil for a while. For thinning, grab some clean scissors and snip the excess plants off at the base. It’s tough, but if your tomatoes are big enough, you can even regrow the cuttings by putting them in water for a few days—tomatoes can do that!
You really should have thinned them right when you transplanted—ideally! But if they're getting crowded now, it's better to cull one to give the rest a fighting chance. You might end up harvesting sooner than you think!
I actually planted late this year, around July 4th, so I’m still hoping for a decent harvest! ?