Saturday, May 21, 2011

It's (almost) Summertime and the thinning is easy

In a Square Foot Garden thinning is easy. Unlike the directions on the seed packets there is no sow, then thin to the proper spacing. We've already sown to the proper spacing, but we did place 2-3 seeds per spot.

You do need to thin, but pulling up the ones you want out could disturb the seedling you want to keep. What to do?

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

Have your own little French revolution right at home, of course without the rioting mobs, blood, and the incessant thump of a guillotine blade doing its job. No, a simple snip will do the trick.

My weapon of choice, my trusty Swiss Army Knife. The blades are small enough to get in and delicately do the dirty deed.




















Here are two squares planted with turnips, they are in need of thinning. It's a bit hard to tell but there are 32 spots planted, 16 per sf.




















Doing the deed.




















Six minutes later and that's better!  There are still a few spots  that I will have to come back to, but at least there are now 32 distinct spots.




















Off to the remote veggie plot!


Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
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3 comments:

  1. Believe it or not, I've never before planted turnips. I don't know anybody besides myself that will eat them, so I've just never bothered. This year I decided to put in a couple of rows (not squares) and I spaced them 3" apart. I couldn't believe how huge the tops grew! It actually takes about an entire square foot to accommodate one turnip top! I ended up having bare spots, as the germination was quite spotty with my seeds. Next time I'll plant two seeds per wanted plant, as you did.

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  2. Hi Granny! I didn't know the tops get that big! Do you eat the tops as well as the root? Seems like a good addition to a curry.

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  3. I know many people like turnip greens, but they just don't appeal to me. They remind me of large radish leaves, actually. I'll bet my pet rabbit will enjoy them, though. I should check mine, maybe they are all tops and no roots!

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