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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Mar 24, 2008 17:37:36 GMT
Hlo...do you all have a rule of thumb when pricking out? Only this year a lot of the seeds I have sown have really tiny seedlings. I usually prick out when seedlings grow their first set of true leaves, but with the tiny veronica, helenium, campanula and lysimachia seedlings this doesn't appear to be advisable as they are still too weeny. Should I wait until they get to a certain size, even tho they are in seed compost rather than 'proper' compost?
thanks ;D
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Post by Spruance on Mar 24, 2008 17:44:35 GMT
I usually work on the two leaves principle as well CPB, which works ok for me.
If you are concerned about the seedlings becoming undernourished, why not adopt the same strategy as recommended for lobelia and simply transplant a small clump into the next size pot or tray? If you have a widger or similar - even a teaspoon perhaps - you should be able to tease them out without too much disturbance.
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 24, 2008 17:52:22 GMT
Must admit because of space problems, I have pricked out too early this time and lost a fair few seedlings.
It is better to wait I think!!
RF
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2008 18:45:03 GMT
Being a clumsy sod, I tend to wait until 4 true leaves are visible, as I have butchered too many plants by trying to lift them when fragile. I tend to use a 6 inch nail or similar implement to tease them out too. I bet that has given you some interesting mental images ...  |
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Post by Barbara on Mar 24, 2008 18:56:04 GMT
i use a potato peeler,  who says you need lots of expensive tools  |
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Post by Plocket on Mar 24, 2008 19:13:51 GMT
Erm... my rule of thumb is do them when I get a chance, and hopefully they are big enough to handle!  |
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Post by Amo on Mar 24, 2008 22:58:33 GMT
I do mine as early as possible because the roots are still small and not tangled together. Just to be awkward.  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2008 23:11:47 GMT
Just as an aside, I treat leek seedlings differently, for obvious reasons ! When they are looking robust, which is a rather subjective viewpoint, I lift out a clod of the compost, complete with baby leeks, and immerse them in a bucket of water, and literally rinse them free of compost. They then go into their designated planting space, which is often a temporary pot until they can be planted permanently in the garden (permanently is a subjective term here ) |
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Post by Tig on Mar 24, 2008 23:14:22 GMT
The tiny ones frighten me too CPB  Glad you asked x Tig |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 24, 2008 23:43:41 GMT
Pricking out absolutely does my head, it can be so fiddly and time consuming, with losses too  I prefer to spend time fiddling about when sowing the seeds. Depending on what size the seeds are I normally sow 4 in a 2" cell, one in each corner and 1 in a 1" cell. This way you can pot on the ones that are ready, second/true leaf stage, and leave the slower growing ones a while. I use an eating fork to lift seedlings out and it is good tool for making a hole in the compo when potting on too. Obviously seeds like Lobelia which are really really tiny, I just do tiny clumps and pot them on as tiny clumps. |
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Post by Tig on Mar 25, 2008 11:31:48 GMT
I try to sow mine singly if the seed is big enough to pick up, but I have sown nicotiana sylvestris which was like dust, and similarly the mecanopsis betonicifolia, tiny tiny seedlings have appeared, I am thrilled, and worried at the same time!!! They were both sown very sparsely so there are not too many per module, just hope they are happy to stay where they are for quite a while. x Tig
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Post by Weeterrier on Mar 25, 2008 15:11:26 GMT
Erm... my rule of thumb is do them when I get a chance, and hopefully they are big enough to handle! Sounds like me, Plocket ;D |
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who says you need lots of expensive tools 
I prefer to spend time fiddling about when sowing the seeds. Depending on what size the seeds are I normally sow 4 in a 2" cell, one in each corner and 1 in a 1" cell. This way you can pot on the ones that are ready, second/true leaf stage, and leave the slower growing ones a while. I use an eating fork to lift seedlings out and it is good tool for making a hole in the compo when potting on too. 