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Thinning seedlings is important in order to grow strong and healthy plants. If you don’t know when or how to thin seedlings (or why the heck you need to do it in the first place), then this post is for you!
I know first hand that thinning seedlings can be a really touchy subject, especially for new gardeners. What, thin my seedlings?!? Eek!
But overcrowded plants will suffer from all kinds of problems down the road if they aren’t spaced out properly.
In a perfect world, every single seed we plant would grow, and it would be easy to space them all correctly from the start.
But, here in the real world, it is not that simple. We know that some of them won’t germinate, so we plant more than what we need to make up for it.
Plus, it’s pretty much impossible to plant tiny little seeds one by one. So we sprinkle them over the top of the dirt instead. Then we end up with overcrowded starts!
That’s why learning how to thin them out is a very important part of successful seedling care.
Don’t worry, it’s not difficult. In this detailed guide, I will walk you through everything, step by step.
Table of Contents
What Does It Mean To Thin Seedlings?
In gardening, thinning seedlings simply means removing some of the ones that were planted too close together, so that only the best and strongest ones are left to thrive.
It is a common practice that’s used to ensure the proper spacing of plants in the garden, especially for those that were sown too close together.
Why Thin Seedlings?
Thinning crowded seedlings ensures that your plants have plenty of room to grow. If they’re too close together, they will eventually end up competing with each other.
This means that, as they mature, their growth will be stunted. Indoors, overcrowded starts won’t get enough air circulation, which can cause mold in your seed trays.
I know it’s difficult, but it is necessary when plants are too close together in the garden, or if there’s more than one per tray cell, pellet, or pot indoors.
Do You Have To Thin Seedlings? Can’t I Just Separate Them?
Yes, you certainly can try to separate some types of seedlings instead of thinning them out. I have had luck doing this with larger ones.
But I don’t do it much anymore. It’s too risky, and it’s a total waste of time to plant the damaged ones that won’t amount to much.
Plus, the task of carefully separating each of the tiny starts is way more tedious than just cutting them out.
If you really, really hate the thought of killing perfectly good seedlings, then the best way to avoid it in the future is to take extra time to space out the seeds properly when you plant them.
When To Thin Seedlings Indoors & Out
To give your plants a healthy start to life, they need plenty of space right from the beginning. So the sooner you thin your seedlings, the better.
The longer you wait, the more you risk stunting their development (and, when you have a super short gardening season like we do here in MN, they need all the time they can get to mature).
If you decide to give it more time, then plan to do it once they get a few sets of true leaves. But not more than 3-4 sets.
How To Thin Seedlings Step-By-Step
Sometimes it can be tough to visualize how to thin seedlings correctly. So, I thought I’d break it down into simple steps for you to follow.
I included lots of pictures because I’m a visual learner, and some of you probably are too. Here are the simple step by step instructions…
Step 1. Decide which ones to cut out – Choose the strongest seedling in the bunch to keep, and then thin out the rest.
To pick the strongest, look for the one that is the most compact, and has the thickest stem. If they’re all the same size, then just pick the one that looks the best.
Step 2. Use the right tool – Regular pruning shears are way too big and clumsy to use for this delicate job, and it’s easy to accidentally damage the other seedlings in the process.
So I recommend using a small micro-tip snip or bonsai shears for precision cuts. Also, be sure to disinfect the blades first. To do that, simply dip them into rubbing alcohol, or wash them with soapy water.
Step 3. Cut the weak seedlings off at the base – It’s very important that you cut the stems off at the base, rather than pinching them out.
And never try to pull the seedlings out of the soil while thinning. Doing that can damage the delicate roots of the others, which could end up killing them too.
This is especially important for root crops. One of the main causes of deformities is damage to the roots when plants are young.
Step 4. Fertilize the remaining seedlings – Once you’re done thinning the seedlings to the proper spacing, give the remaining ones a shot of fertilizer for an extra boost.
Use a starter fertilizer, or try compost tea (which you can get in liquid form or buy tea bags to brew your own). Seedlings also love liquid kelp or fish emulsion.
How To Pick The Strongest Seedling
To pick the strongest seedling, find the healthiest, and most compact one in the group. That’s the one you want to keep. Then thin out the others.
If they all look equally healthy, then cut out the smallest or weakest looking ones. Just keep in mind that the tallest ones aren’t always the healthiest.
They grow tall and leggy when they don’t get enough light. So remove the ones that have become weak or scraggly looking.
If the seedlings are all the same size, then you can just randomly thin them out. Or give it a bit more time to see if one of them gets larger than the others. But really, in this case, you can’t make the wrong choice, so cut away.
How Much Thinning Do I Need To Do?
If your seedlings are indoors, then you should thin them out until there is only one left in each cell, pellet, or pot.
Not only will this give them plenty of room to grow, but it also makes it much easier when it comes time for transplanting them into the garden.
Seedlings that were sown directly in the ground, rather than started indoors, should be thinned to the spacing requirements on the seed packet.
FAQs
In this section, I will answer some of the most commonly asked questions that I get about thinning seedlings. If you still have a question after reading through these, then ask it in the comments below.
Can you replant thinned seedlings?
No, unfortunately you cannot replant thinned out seedlings. After cutting them off at the base, they will eventually die. However, you can use the edible ones as microgreens, they are delicious in salads!
How big should seedlings be before thinning?
It’s usually best to wait until seedlings have their first set of true leaves before thinning them.
That way, you’ll know which ones have successfully unfurled. But don’t wait too long, or overcrowding could begin to stunt their growth.
How do you thin seedlings without killing them?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to properly thin seedlings without killing them. If you try to separate them, rather than pruning out the weakest ones, you risk killing them all.
If you can’t stomach the thought of killing them in this way, then make sure you properly space the seeds next time you plant them.
Thinning seedlings is a necessary evil when they become overcrowded. But proper spacing is crucial for growing healthy plants. So, even though it can be really hard, it’s very important to learn how to thin out your seedlings.
If you’re a new gardener and want to learn how to grow any plant you want from seed, check out my online Seed Starting Course! It’s a wonderful, comprehensive and completely self-paced online course that will teach you everything you need to know about successfully growing garden seeds. Enroll and get started today!
Otherwise, if you just need a quick refresher for planting them indoors, then my Starting Seeds Indoors eBook is exactly what you need.
More Posts About Seedlings
- How To Fix Common Seedling Problems
- How To Repot Seedlings Into Larger Containers
Share your tips about how to thin seedlings in the comments section below.
As an avid gardener with years of hands-on experience and a deep passion for cultivating healthy plants, I understand the intricacies of seedling care, particularly the often-overlooked process of thinning. Thinning seedlings is not merely a theoretical concept for me; it's a crucial practice that I have implemented countless times in my own garden, resulting in robust and flourishing plants.
The passage emphasizes the importance of thinning seedlings to promote optimal plant growth. I wholeheartedly agree with the author's assertion that overcrowded plants face a myriad of problems, and thinning is the key to ensuring proper spacing and healthy development.
The author touches upon the practical challenges of achieving perfect seed germination and the inevitability of overcrowded starts. I can attest to the fact that, in the real world of gardening, not every seed will germinate, leading us to plant more than necessary to compensate for potential losses. The mention of the difficulty in planting tiny seeds individually resonates with my own experiences, as it is a common practice to sprinkle them over the soil.
Thinning seedlings is not presented as a daunting task but rather as an essential aspect of successful seedling care. The article rightly emphasizes the potential problems that arise if seedlings are not thinned, such as competition for resources, stunted growth, and the risk of mold in seed trays.
The step-by-step guide provided is comprehensive and accurate, reflecting my own practices in selecting the strongest seedlings based on compactness and stem thickness. The recommendation of using the right tools, such as micro-tip snips or bonsai shears, aligns with my preference for precision in this delicate process. The emphasis on cutting the weak seedlings at the base, rather than pulling them out, is a crucial detail that underscores the importance of minimizing potential damage to the remaining plants.
Additionally, the article addresses the common question of whether to separate or thin seedlings. The author's practical advice aligns with my own experiences, emphasizing the potential risks and inefficiency of trying to separate overcrowded seedlings, especially for smaller ones.
The information on when to thin seedlings indoors and outdoors aligns with standard gardening practices, emphasizing the importance of providing plants with ample space early in their development.
The inclusion of a section on fertilizing the remaining seedlings after thinning is a valuable addition. I have personally observed enhanced growth and vitality in seedlings following a well-timed application of fertilizer.
The FAQs section is insightful and addresses common concerns about replanting thinned seedlings, the ideal size for thinning, and the inevitability of some loss during the thinning process. The author's acknowledgment of thinning as a necessary but challenging aspect of gardening resonates with my own perspective.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide to thinning seedlings, combining practical advice with a genuine understanding of the challenges faced by gardeners, especially beginners. The author's expertise shines through, making the article a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their seedling care skills.
