Thinning - How?

[catjac1975]

I did this several weeks ago with some butterhead lettuce seedlings.. They were growing in my hydroponics mix (vermiculite) and I had tons in something the size of a kitty litter box -- something along the lines of 30-40 of them.. (long story). Anyway, I dug them up by hand to move some into egg-shell cups with a bit of soil in it to allow me to give them to friends. Unfortunately this took a toll on the remaining plants which are floundering a bit since.. The seedlings that are still living in the egg-shells are actually about twice the size.. Go figure. Anyway, I'm being patient... Next time I'll probably use the snip method to leave the soil alone..

They will probably bounce back. They were holding each other up. When you removed the extras they were not strong enough to hold themselves up. Maybe next time let them grow longer. When big enough snip out the extras intermittently to eat.
I tend to start thinning as soon as the first seedlings emerge.

 

[RickF]

Yes, they were kinda laying all over each other -- the ones in the egg shells (at least some of them) are trying to stand-up but none in the hydro yet.. They're not dying but just not moving as fast as they were.. My Garlic on the other hand is growing like crazy in the hydro.. I've not measured lately but I'd guess they're close to 18" tall already..