GROWING TIPS
Thinning 101
Leaf'd Box | February 10, 2022
Thinning out veggies is something that may feel counter intuitive. You're pulling out your growing plant babies! Why?
Because thinning out your growth can help with the overall success of the veggies!
WHY THIN?
Root veggies are plants that grow their harvest below the soil, like a root, instead of growing a harvest from the stem or leaves of the plant above the soil. For root veggies like beets, radish and carrots, thinning them early helps to avoid growing stunted, smaller fruit.
To grow them, you make rows and sprinkle the seeds in a designated area. From there, they grow quickly and can get super close to one another. Think of it like being in a bus that is completely full: no seats and no standing room, either. Not too comfortable, right?
If you were to leave your pants like this, you might not have too successful of a harvest. Not as many radishes, beets, and carrots will grow and the veggies will be thin and small. But, if you thin them out you'll be able to avoid this!
HOW TO THIN
Thinning out your root veggies is simple. When they get to be about 2 weeks old or when their leaves above the soil get to be about 2 inches in height, pull out excess growth so there is anywhere from 2-4 inches of space between each veggie. You can also check your seed packets to see specific spacing recommendations for each individual plant type. Now, each individual plant has their comfy area to grow!
For loose-leaf veggies like mixed greens and spinach, we also recommend thinning so that each seed grows to their fullest potential. If they're all competing to grow and there isn't enough space or nutrients to go around, there won't be a lot to enjoy come harvest time!
So, although it might feel wrong, thinning out your veggie seedlings will really help your plant babies thrive in the long run!
