Sowing seeds way too close. Help!!

frankiedolphinhaizel

Hi, I'm very new to gardening and need help. I made 2 mistakes. One, I didn't label the vegetable and two I planted the seeds way too close. They have started showing signs of growth and was wondering if anyone had any advice on what to do? By the way, there are only 2 options that this vegetable could be. Either cabbage greyhound or dwarf green curled kale (the seeds look very similar). Thanks 

JennyJ

If you do it very soon before the baby roots go down into the soil, you might be able to carefully pick up some of them with tweezers (holding them by the seed case not the new shoot/root) and space them out more or put some into other pots.  Otherwise it will be a case of thinning out when they get a bit bigger, like when you sow outdoors in drills.

For the labelling, you'll need to wait until they're big enough to recognise.

Fairygirl

Just pull some out. You could try poking them back in a bit further apart and you may find they take before they get any bigger.
Then label them 
I would have filled those pots a bit fuller too. If you fill completely to the top of the pot, once the compost is watered, it'll then settle to about the right level  

Lyn

The seeds should have been covered with compost, point to remember next time you sow. 

Fairygirl

Lyn said:

The seeds should have been covered with compost, point to remember next time you sow. 

I meant to mention that, Lyn - then forgot 
Small seeds are tricky, Frankie. Some people mix them with a little sand to make it easier to sow thinly.
Try putting a little drop in your hand, then if you cup your hand, and tap gently,  keeping your hand slightly angled, and the seeds will form an 'orderly queue' along that big line in your hand. You then tap again beside the line, and they should drop quite sparingly into the pot. You can then just move your hand slowly round the pot. 
I find that works well, it just takes a wee bit of practice.