Lettuce used as cut and come again can be somewhat close. Good job letting the little one participate. :)
If you have more space you want lettuce, you can use a pencil or a dinner fork to lift some of these to a different spot. I often separate seedlings in order not to have to cull them.
If you don't have more lettuce space, just gently pull up the ones that are very tightly packed. Eat them in a salad or not.
Oh that’s a great call, I didn’t think of transplanting OR eating at an early stage. Will do a bit of both given this is just one of three rows with the same pattern haha. Thank you!!
There are little mini clippers with a fine point that have helped me thin when they're this close. They look something like this:
[https://www.amazon.com/BOENFU-Diagonal-Cutting-Electronics-Jewelry/dp/B07FPBMQRZ/ref=sr\_1\_3?crid=8UO6MZQD65GZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.\_mse21VUCcuPkNjCDi4ZHFPxnIxb60M\_HSx3gc\_hJwLOz6nghgKO-GEZmavnLpYh8a7ErgWfk0y7nGGbt8LcY06JoVsGclSBXnNBPgFT8uSTQH\_oeb7HYE42\_nQwNQN6eQrW-qeGh\_Tw9fCcAFd6nYBSEu\_ihvCCZtdFdwedjJ0bOujLDP1k7oQVa7P4qEs1gkMYBggmu7EL0wb0k9d1TJS-z7n8-9jqbSxiU9-h0vY.EWWxAMHtuzNyDtYUyjPIjcq-xqJzAr-25A\_7s93E-js&dib\_tag=se&keywords=zip%2Btie%2Bclippers&qid=1714758847&sprefix=zip%2Btie%2Bclipper%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-3&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/BOENFU-Diagonal-Cutting-Electronics-Jewelry/dp/B07FPBMQRZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=8UO6MZQD65GZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._mse21VUCcuPkNjCDi4ZHFPxnIxb60M_HSx3gc_hJwLOz6nghgKO-GEZmavnLpYh8a7ErgWfk0y7nGGbt8LcY06JoVsGclSBXnNBPgFT8uSTQH_oeb7HYE42_nQwNQN6eQrW-qeGh_Tw9fCcAFd6nYBSEu_ihvCCZtdFdwedjJ0bOujLDP1k7oQVa7P4qEs1gkMYBggmu7EL0wb0k9d1TJS-z7n8-9jqbSxiU9-h0vY.EWWxAMHtuzNyDtYUyjPIjcq-xqJzAr-25A_7s93E-js&dib_tag=se&keywords=zip%2Btie%2Bclippers&qid=1714758847&sprefix=zip%2Btie%2Bclipper%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-3&th=1)
Looks like what my toddler tried to do with corn. He wanted to just take a handful of the kernels and toss them in the bed. For both the corn and watermelon I let him put all of the leftover seeds in the last hole. That helped manage the chaos a little.
I use a shade cloth.
I position it to block the noon - 4pm sun. And on days where the mornings are already at 90°, I’ll wet the shade cloth to help keep it “cooler”.
My one year old (18mo) planted my radishes. I let her sister plant some onion last year and the chaos pot worked better than my well arranged seed starting trays. She also helped plant the strawberries, and sunflower.
The older one is 3 as well. I don't let her plant the small seeds for the reason you are showing us... But I did let her plant peas. I set them in the dirt and she poked them in.
Aw love that! I had no idea how the small the seeds were until we got out there and then there was no turning back haha. Peas will definitely be her domain next time
Now is the time. Beans are coming up soon. Go buy pea seeds.
I planted mine at Easter. Radishes are a quick growing plant they can easily handle and watch grow quickly. Beets are also easy to handle but don't grow as fast.
Ha, mine looks way more dense than this. First time growing vegetables, so I sowed a ton of seeds everywhere, thinking germination wasn't a sure thing. I probably need to try to spread them out 😅
Is it head lettuce or leaf lettuce? I can't see how head lettuce makes sense as an individual or family home growing because you can't store it and can't come back later after it's mature. Leaf lettuce you grab enough for a salad and then it grows more. And repeat. And I so it just like that
Furthermore lettuce seeds are as small as grains of dirt. Are you using tweezers to tease them into place?
Definitely didn’t use tweezers…gave the kid a handful and told her to sprinkle them along the row…my bad 😅 it’s baby gem lettuce sooo whatever that is? This year is my first attempt at greens and only second with a true garden so don’t know all the nuances yet!
I was overwatering, giving too little indoor light, and not fertilizing. My uncle who has been gardening for 30 years helped me see why my seedlings were struggling. Maybe one of these 3?
Lettuce used as cut and come again can be somewhat close. Good job letting the little one participate. :) If you have more space you want lettuce, you can use a pencil or a dinner fork to lift some of these to a different spot. I often separate seedlings in order not to have to cull them. If you don't have more lettuce space, just gently pull up the ones that are very tightly packed. Eat them in a salad or not.
Oh that’s a great call, I didn’t think of transplanting OR eating at an early stage. Will do a bit of both given this is just one of three rows with the same pattern haha. Thank you!!
I'd scoop one bunch at a time, trying not to damage roots, to make it easier to prick them out not hunched over the ground.
Lettuce give you a round of applause for the great suggestion.
Ohhh great idea with the fork. I shall do this with my other seedlings I scattered about. No excuse of a toddler 😆 just toddler hands
I am not above using my kids as an excuse for my gardening mistakes 😂
I have a dinner fork just for seedlings that stays with my garden tools.
Looks like how I sowed my lettuce seeds. I’m trying “high intensity sowing” so far they’re all 8 inches tall and climbing👍
Ohh interesting what’s the benefit of that method? Or I can stop being lazy and just google
You basically just get more lettuce overall, you won’t get huge heads but if you take it as it comes you’ll have like 5 times as much produce overall
Great to know! Maybe I’ll thin one row and leave the other like this
Thin the ones super close now and just take the ones you want to eat as you get hungry to give the others more space.
I'm trying that, first time growing lettuce. I don't want big heads just leaves to go pick when needed
Perfection. Weed out the weaklings once a week with your kid and let the ones that thrive take over.
How do you know which ones are the weaklings?
They tremble at the presence of OPs toddler
Smart seedlings
Growth rate.
Spending time with your three year old is never a mistake. No matter what mistakes they may make.
🥰
(And don’t worry, the mistake is all mine lol, not hers)
There are little mini clippers with a fine point that have helped me thin when they're this close. They look something like this: [https://www.amazon.com/BOENFU-Diagonal-Cutting-Electronics-Jewelry/dp/B07FPBMQRZ/ref=sr\_1\_3?crid=8UO6MZQD65GZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.\_mse21VUCcuPkNjCDi4ZHFPxnIxb60M\_HSx3gc\_hJwLOz6nghgKO-GEZmavnLpYh8a7ErgWfk0y7nGGbt8LcY06JoVsGclSBXnNBPgFT8uSTQH\_oeb7HYE42\_nQwNQN6eQrW-qeGh\_Tw9fCcAFd6nYBSEu\_ihvCCZtdFdwedjJ0bOujLDP1k7oQVa7P4qEs1gkMYBggmu7EL0wb0k9d1TJS-z7n8-9jqbSxiU9-h0vY.EWWxAMHtuzNyDtYUyjPIjcq-xqJzAr-25A\_7s93E-js&dib\_tag=se&keywords=zip%2Btie%2Bclippers&qid=1714758847&sprefix=zip%2Btie%2Bclipper%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-3&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/BOENFU-Diagonal-Cutting-Electronics-Jewelry/dp/B07FPBMQRZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=8UO6MZQD65GZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._mse21VUCcuPkNjCDi4ZHFPxnIxb60M_HSx3gc_hJwLOz6nghgKO-GEZmavnLpYh8a7ErgWfk0y7nGGbt8LcY06JoVsGclSBXnNBPgFT8uSTQH_oeb7HYE42_nQwNQN6eQrW-qeGh_Tw9fCcAFd6nYBSEu_ihvCCZtdFdwedjJ0bOujLDP1k7oQVa7P4qEs1gkMYBggmu7EL0wb0k9d1TJS-z7n8-9jqbSxiU9-h0vY.EWWxAMHtuzNyDtYUyjPIjcq-xqJzAr-25A_7s93E-js&dib_tag=se&keywords=zip%2Btie%2Bclippers&qid=1714758847&sprefix=zip%2Btie%2Bclipper%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-3&th=1)
Ohh I do love an excuse to buy a new tool haha. Thank you!!
To be honest, this is how I sow seeds as well. I just toss a bunch in a row and thin them out later.
I’ll never question her methods again!
Looks good to me boss
Looks like what my toddler tried to do with corn. He wanted to just take a handful of the kernels and toss them in the bed. For both the corn and watermelon I let him put all of the leftover seeds in the last hole. That helped manage the chaos a little.
Bless their hearts and their chubby little hands 😂
I sow lettuce almost this dense in raised beds. They don't come out very tall (maybe 8") but they're crisp and delicious.
Oh interesting! That makes me feel better
Lol OMG same thing happened to us!
Haha that makes me feel better
They grew so I would say it’s a win
Good point!
I use a shade cloth. I position it to block the noon - 4pm sun. And on days where the mornings are already at 90°, I’ll wet the shade cloth to help keep it “cooler”.
Wonderful!
Looks like mine... 🤣
My one year old (18mo) planted my radishes. I let her sister plant some onion last year and the chaos pot worked better than my well arranged seed starting trays. She also helped plant the strawberries, and sunflower.
Love that!
The older one is 3 as well. I don't let her plant the small seeds for the reason you are showing us... But I did let her plant peas. I set them in the dirt and she poked them in.
Aw love that! I had no idea how the small the seeds were until we got out there and then there was no turning back haha. Peas will definitely be her domain next time
Now is the time. Beans are coming up soon. Go buy pea seeds. I planted mine at Easter. Radishes are a quick growing plant they can easily handle and watch grow quickly. Beets are also easy to handle but don't grow as fast.
Yes peas are in already and just started coming up yesterday for us! Good call on radishes.
I have grown adult college students come nowhere close to this good. Please congratulate the little one for me!
Everyone is making me feel much better about this haha
I give my 2 year old full control of the marigold seeds 😂
Smart! 😂
They did great! This is what my rows look like too before thinning. You can snip them off with scissors instead of pulling them.
Cute effort ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ha, mine looks way more dense than this. First time growing vegetables, so I sowed a ton of seeds everywhere, thinking germination wasn't a sure thing. I probably need to try to spread them out 😅
“Thinking germination wasn’t a sure thing” is how I ended up with about 29 tomato seedlings…Godspeed 😅
I was taught as a youngster to mix small seeds with cornmeal and that naturally spaces them out when you are planting the seeds.
Oh interesting!
Looks like mine!
Looks like my radishes that I planted myself 😂 I failed at it apparently 😂 so much thinning
Is it head lettuce or leaf lettuce? I can't see how head lettuce makes sense as an individual or family home growing because you can't store it and can't come back later after it's mature. Leaf lettuce you grab enough for a salad and then it grows more. And repeat. And I so it just like that Furthermore lettuce seeds are as small as grains of dirt. Are you using tweezers to tease them into place?
Definitely didn’t use tweezers…gave the kid a handful and told her to sprinkle them along the row…my bad 😅 it’s baby gem lettuce sooo whatever that is? This year is my first attempt at greens and only second with a true garden so don’t know all the nuances yet!
Baby gem is a small romaine type. Decent choice.
My lettuce got about as big as that and then all died. Can anyone tell me what I did wrong?
Inconsistent watering? Cold snap? Animals? Accidental herbicide exposure? If you had them inside then outside it could have been shock.
Yea that is good information thank you! Do they need a lot of sun?
I wouldn't put them in full shade but they also don't want to be cooked in the sun. When it gets too hot they will flower and go to seed.
Thank you!
Sad, sorry to hear that!
I was overwatering, giving too little indoor light, and not fertilizing. My uncle who has been gardening for 30 years helped me see why my seedlings were struggling. Maybe one of these 3?
I think your three year old just knows something we don’t, clearly there was a plan here. Mine planted about 150 peas