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Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.
Plucking little seedlings out of the ground, roots and all, is something I still struggle with today but it is essential for a strong, pest and disease free vegetable garden.
Over planting is going to reduce air flow, encourage fungal growth, cause root competition and prevent foliage from being exposed to sunlight which is needed to dry off moisture and will reduce your plant’s ability to produce starches and sugars that give your vegetables flavour.
If you have planted from seed (as I always do), chances are you have too many seedlings popping out of the ground.
It is easy to get caught out planting from seed. There are more seeds in a packet than you need, so the temptation is to be liberal and throwing in a few extras too close together is inevitable (unless you are extremely self-disciplined). Don’t stress, this is not a terrible practice as it enables you to thin out the weakest seedlings, leaving you with a plethora of strong plants.
So, cull now! Well, cull if they have their second set of leaves.
Imagine that seedling fully grown. Give it space from its companions. Look for the one that seems to be the strongest and remove any others around it.
This is the child you get to pick! And nurture to maturity. Choose well.
Be careful not to disturb the roots of seedlings you want to keep. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, so make sure you water your garden bed after you have completed the removal of additional plants, as this helps them settle into the soil again and remove any large air pockets that you may have created.
Your new seedlings will grow very quickly, this makes them hungry feeders. They are going to require more assistance now than they will for the rest of their growing and producing lives. They’re going to need protection from the Whitsunday’s intense sunlight, on our blue sky beautiful days, which are numerous as we head into the picturesque Whitsunday winter. And they are going to require food themselves!
So, from three to four weeks out of the ground, I start liquid feeding with a weak solution of Seasol, once a fortnight.
I also use shade cloth over just about all of my garden beds - 25% shade cloth is optimal.
Not only does this assist in keeping the soil moist (yes, I hate that word too but it does describe the amount of water needed well), but it is also a fantastic barrier from pests, especially grasshoppers and cabbage moth! I could not produce a successful patch without a shade cloth. Give it a go.
