Hey everyone! I'm new to gardening and trying to learn as I go. This year, I experimented with cucumbers and planted 30 seeds in buckets, hoping for a fall crop. To my surprise, 20 of them have already sprouted! I'm a bit unsure about what to do now. I've heard it's essential to thin them out, but I don't want to waste any plants. Can anyone advise me on the best way to transplant some of these seedlings without harming them?
1 Answer
Seeds are usually pretty affordable, so it's often easier to let the strongest seedlings grow and remove the weaker ones rather than transplanting them. Do you really need all 20 cucumber plants? Since you've got great germination rates, just pick the strongest few and thin the rest. You can also start seeds in a tray and separate them gently when they have their first true leaves. That way, it’s less stressful for the plants!
Oh god no! I wouldn’t know what to do with that many! I was just thinking of giving them to my dad or uncle. Since this is my first time, I figured, why not plant three seeds? I honestly didn’t think they’d all germinate! Thanks for the advice! I’ll just go ahead and cut the weaker ones once I can spot them.