Do I need to thin tomato seedlings?

Tomatoes can be a bit finicky even for the best of growers. We like to thin our seedlings to give our 'maters a boost in their infancy. While it might feel counterintuitive to tear out the little seedlings, removing excess tomato seedlings will allow each plant sufficient space, sunlight, and nutrients to grow.

What happens if you don't thin tomato seedlings?

When left un-thinned, seedlings that are in tight quarters will compete with one another for nutrients, water, air, and root space. Those are not things you want to deprive your seedlings of! In addition to concerns about competition, crowding seedlings also increases the risk for disease.

How big should seedlings be before thinning?

Seedlings should have at least two pairs of true leaves and be about 3 to 4 inches (8-10 cm.) tall before thinning. Evening hours are a good time to thin seedlings as the cooler temps and darker conditions make it easier for the remaining seedlings to bounce back from any stress they may have received.

Do tomatoes need to be thinned?

If you haven't thinned and the tomato fruit has already been developing for 2 to 3 weeks or even longer, it still benefits to do fruit thinning. The lower one or two fruit can still be removed (Picture 2). Thinning the rest of fruit clusters will depend on the time available to a grower.

When should I thin my tomato plants?

Plants are usually ready to prune once they reach 12 to 18 inches in height. Photo by Julie Martens Forney. To do the Missouri pruning technique on suckers, pinch off the growing tip, leaving only the two lowest leaves.

How To Thin Tomato Seedlings

Can you replant thinned tomato seedlings?

Thin stemmed seedlings don't transplant well outside because they aren't strong enough to withstand the elements. If the stem tapers as you get closer to the soil line this is an indication of inconsistent watering (over or under) and again is a sign it should be snipped.

Should I pinch off the tops of tomato seedlings?

It's OK to pinch back indeterminate tomato plants as needed to shape them and keep them under control. Some gardeners pinch back the “suckers” that grow in the bend between a branch and the main stem, which results in larger tomatoes but fewer total tomatoes produced.

How big should your tomato seedlings be before transplanting?

Tomatoes are ready for transplanting into the garden when the seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall, and the nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.

Can you replant thinned seedlings?

You may be able to transplant some of the seedlings if you are careful not to disturb the roots too much when you move them. If you wait until your beet, rutabaga, and turnip greens are a few inches tall before you thin them, you can eat them, baby roots included.

Do all seedlings need to be thinned?

Seedlings are usually thinned when they have one to two sets of true leaves. The first leaves, known as the cotelydons, are embryonic seeds stored in the seeds, and the plant is not viable until the next true leaves appear, which will have a much different appearance.

How do you thin seedlings without killing them?

Cut the weak seedlings off at the base – It's very important that you cut the stems off at the base, rather than pinching them out. And never try to pull the seedlings out of the soil while thinning. Doing that can damage the delicate roots of the others, which could end up killing them too.

What happens if you plant seeds too close together?

Crowded plants not only discourage growth, they encourage pests and disease. Crowded seedlings shade each other from the sun. As they get larger, it only gets worse. Crowded root vegetables, including turnips, beets, and radishes, won't develop useable roots if they're crowded.

What happens if I plant plants too close together?

When plants are too close together, it makes the garden much harder to weed. This will, you guessed it, lead to an abundance of weeds. For customers wanting to literally enjoy the fruits of these labors, harvesting is something they will eventually get around to doing.

When should I trim my tomato seedlings?

The best time to start pruning your tomato plants is 2-3 weeks after you plant your tomato plant in the ground. This is a time that the plant will likely begin trying to grow as much as possible, so it will be helpful for its growth to be directed into a few stems.

Can you plant two tomato plants together?

Some determinate tomato varieties are bred to be smaller, and these can be planted more closely together; varieties labeled as compact or dwarf can be planted as closely as 12 inches apart. Indeterminate tomato varieties are vining plants that continue growing until pruned or until they are killed by frost.

What do I do if my tomato seedlings are leggy?

If you have leggy tomato seedlings, the best way to correct them is to repot the seedlings (or transplant them) and bury the stems up to the lowest set of leaves. Not only will this fix any problems with legginess, it's a recommended practice to strengthen tomato stems and help their roots form more mass.

How do you make tomato seedlings stronger?

Brushing plants helps them grow stronger, stockier (though shorter), and more able to withstand transplanting into the garden. You can help strengthen a growing tomato plant by making it move! There are two ways you can give your tomatoes a workout: brush them and blow air on them.

How do I make my tomato seedlings bushier?

You can pinch or cut back your seedlings to make them more compact and bushy, keeping them a manageable size, just as you would do with shrubs. When a seedling grows, usually all the growth is just at the tip. New leaves grow, then a new section of stem, then leaves, and another section of stem.

Should you pick the first flowers off tomato plants?

The earlier you catch the tomato flowers, the better, as the plant will have wasted the least amount of energy to produce them. Remember, plucking tomato flowers should only be done on young plants that are not yet established in a final pot/garden bed!

Should I remove lower leaves on tomato plants?

If your plants are grown with adequate space between them, light will reach the lower leaves and they don't have to be removed. When lower leaves start getting yellow it is a sign that they are shutting down and they should be removed before they become a sugar drain on the rest of the plant.

Should you pinch tomato plants?

Pinching out your tomatoes is an essential part of tomato plant care. The reason for this is the tomato plant is a naturally bushy plant, and if you let it grow as it wants to, it will put all of its focus into growing foliage at the expense of fruit.