How To Plant "Thinly"

[so lucky]

We talk about having to thin out lettuce, beets, carrots, etc, because we can't seem to plant them thinly enough. Sometimes it is a real chore trying to get those seedlings thinned out, and then, what do we do with them? Try to save them and replant? Feed them to the chickens? I hate to waste seeds, and I'm sure you do too.
The best way I know of is to mix the seed with some sand or dry soil--like a cup of sand to a packet of seeds--before strewing in the row. But there are some seeds that are too big for this to be effective, but still too small to be able to hand space easily.
I'm wondering if a person could smash beet seeds to get them to separate. Take a hammer to them.
What do you do to space seeds adequately? Or do you just pull out the extras?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Usually I pull out the extras. Some go to the chickens, some get thrown down right there to rot, some make it to the compost, and some become salad.


I keep meaning to make a seed tape for carrots, beets, radishes, lettuce, things like that but always wimp out.


Dad used that sand trick but I never have. Too lazy I guess.

 

[digitS']

The sand/seeds didn't work very well for me, So Lucky. I can imagine that just using soil would "mix" the seed in better. I've used those little plastic things that sometimes come free with a seed order.

Usually, I'm just using my hand. Allowing the the seed to trickle down along my digitS' and fall from the tips. I plant a fair amount of seed and will take some time with the larger seeds to get the spacing the way I want. Much of that spacing is controlled by how many rows I put in a bed. Years ago, I would plant bean seed the same way I still put in transplants - in a matrix. Now, I just go with 3 or 4 or 5 rows in a bed.

Hammering beet seeds? Well, I will do that with cilantro. Not using a hammer but if you put the seed in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin on it . . . The cilantro seed is somewhat like beet seed. There are 2 seeds in every pod and they can be broken apart easily. Smells good, too!

Beets are like carrots -- you can find pelleted seed if you'd like. Pelleted seed is becoming common because mechanical seeders make good use of it. I have had pelleted carrot seed that was as large as peas! Pretty easy to space the seed like that.

I refrain from thinning beets until they are large enuf for a serving or two of baby beets - just about my favorite veggie . It is kind of silly but there will be at least a forkful or 2 with that 1st thinning. It is really the only way I am interested in eating beets. If I have my way, they'd never reach anything larger than marble size, anyway.

Steve

 

[NwMtGardener]

Hammering beet seeds? Well, I will do that with cilantro. Not using a hammer but if you put the seed in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin on it . . . The cilantro seed is somewhat like beet seed. There are 2 seeds in every pod and they can be broken apart easily. Smells good, too!

Steve

WHAT?! I never knew this, but it really explains a lot about why I think I put one cilantro seed down, and get 2 seedlings... duh.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

I knew that beets are like this, but not cilantro.

I don't know if I can be of any help on this one. I've just gotten used to working with small seed. Sowing in blocks may be easier than sowing in rows. I have smashed beet seeds with a hammer before (gently, don't turn them into powder) to separate their little seed clusters.

Maybe try putting your seed on a sheet of paper (when it's not windy outside) and gently tap on the sheet as your going down your row. I do that with the really small herb seed.

The sand trick and the seed tape work well too.

 

[Lavender2]

I just could not master the sprinkle thinly thing in the garden, or get around to making seed tape ahead of time. I make a 'sort of' seed tape that goes straight to the garden.

I prepare the area to plant first, including making shallow trenches.
Then I take paper towels, roll or fold up each piece and cut into about 1" strips. Lay the strips on a large tray and wet. Dump the seeds on a plate and use a moistened toothpick to place the seeds on the wet strips, usually about an inch apart. Take the tray to the garden and plant the strips right away.
I still have to do some thinning, but not the mess that I used to have.

Beets, I just thin and throw, if they're not at least a bite. Transplanting is not very successful for me unless conditions are just right. I wonder about separating them though... damage/germination rate? ... it sure would be nice not to throw so many away.

 

[thistlebloom]

I would love to plant thinly this year.
Unfortunately I'm as chubby as ever.

 

[ninnymary]

I would love to plant thinly this year.
Unfortunately I'm as chubby as ever.

Thistle, I'll plant thinly for you. Ha..

Mary

 

[thistlebloom]

Thistle, I'll plant thinly for you. Ha..

Mary

How soon can you get up here?

 

[Smiles Jr.]

I would love to plant thinly this year.
Unfortunately I'm as chubby as ever.

C'mon over - I'm about as thin as a person can get. When I stand sideways I dissappear