[kermit]

Ok stupid question time - when people talk about pricking out / thinning, do they discard the seedlings being removed?  I've been replanting mine elsewhere, where I havent destroyed them in the process.   

[SnooziSuzi]

some seedlings don't mind having their roots disturbed and these would be fine for transplanting, but some others hate being disturbed so may not grow properly if at all.

carrots and parsnips are two which hate to be transplanted and so you would just discard any that you had thinned - they may continue to grow if replanted but the roots would be forked and maybe not very big.  Other seedlings like cabbages are fairly tollerant as long as you don't damage the stem or roots when you are pricking them out.

 

[oldbean]

Pricking out is transferring tiny seedlings from their original pot/tray to pots or trays with enough space for growing on. Thinning is pulling plants out of a row sowed too thickly. You can use the thinnings rather than chuck them. Better to sow enough, than too many, then you don't have to thin.

[SnooziSuzi]

I often 'station sow' seeds in seed trays rather than broadcast them.  This means I can tell  the exact number of how many have germinated and therefore how many I will have when they've grown on a bit.  I still prick them out and transfer the strongest to individual pots.

[sclarke624]

What do reckon on beetroot do they mind being transplanted.

[Kristen]

"What do reckon on beetroot do they mind being transplanted."

I raise beetroot in seed trays, prick out to 3" plastic pots and plant out.  Seems to work OK. This year I'm going to try paper-pots alongside as a trail to see if they perform better.  Also Celeriac (that I have grown as per beetroot above in the past)

I sort of think that the round surface rooted vegetables are not so troubled by transplanting as the straight-down-taproot type, like Carrots and Parsnips.

But that's only my view.

[Elcie]

What do reckon on beetroot do they mind being transplanted.

Great question as I have just removed the plastic bottles protecting my early beetroot sowing at the plot.  I know have approximately 4 or 5 little beetroot plants at each point.  Shall I thin them and discard?  Shall I thin them and transplant to a gap in the middle?  Choices, choices!

[peapod]

try both! Transplant some in some gaps and leave other gaps free. You'll find out what 'werks for you' for next year then