Saturday, February 16, 2013

Seedling death....

They were murdered by Ms. Browning, with scissors, in the kitchen....

Thinning seedlings makes me feel terrible every year.  As a gardener you want each one to survive, so to go through and thin seedlings that you have nurtured along the way just feels wrong.  

This year, after making just a few simple changes I ended up with nearly all of my seeds germinating, so this year more than ever I had to thin otherwise I risked the seedlings starving each other for nutrients and choking each other out.  

Looking at the pile I had thinned last night made me laugh a bit, because I realized with each cut of the scissors I would hold my breath and cringe for the plants.  A bit dramatic and goofy I know, but what can I say?  I guess I feel empathy for all living things.....


8 comments:

  1. I know! Had to do the same thing this week with m tomato seedlings. Found myself whispering 'I'm so sorry' each time I clipped one!

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    1. I think it was harder on me then it was the seedlings! Glad I am not the only one! ;)

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  2. I've tried to move some with limited success but what are you going to do?

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    1. If my cats allow them to live long enough, my plan is to move them into a large dog crate with more grow light and then into cold frames in a few week. (I am going to blog this red neck contraption that I have built later today.) :)

      We will see if the survive! :)

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  3. Emily, I SO agree with you and that's part of the reason why I often buy started plants instead of sprouting my own seeds because I hate to 'play God' and decide which will live and which won't. I am SO glad to find out I'm not alone.

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    1. I am horribly sensitive to living things. It might be a flaw of mine actually! So, please know you are not alone!

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