#TT - THINNING

Say it with me everyone. It’s TERMINOLOGY TUESDAY! Every week, we pick a phrase in the farming/gardening realm and break it down for our beginning gardening family. It’s SO easy to get overwhelmed when you’re just beginning. Don’t give up. We’ve got you.

This week’s term is THINNING.

Thinning? Like my hair? Vanessa….I’m not ready to talk about that…

Calm down. Not THAT type of thinning (although, I got you on product recommendations)

THINNING is a process of removing some seedlings that are over crowed due to successful germination.

🧐 You remember when we put 3-5 seeds in each seed cell praying for miracles?! Yay! I’d call that a success!

Crowded plants can lead to mold on new seedlings so you’ll want to thin them by snipping off the top as close to the base as you can.

Don’t yank them out, as you may disturb the roots of the neighboring seedling. Gentle people, gentle. Thinning should be done as soon as possible so that roots have all the wiggle room they need to grow.

🥬 Rule of thumb: Only the strong survive (In my Spartacus voice). Axe the weaklings. You’ll thank me later.