What is thinning??

[Jay-Ob]

Hi am new to growing your own, I have a plot got beetroot spring onion & some herbs, in another plot it all lettuce. I got a few little shots & leaves starting to pop up, about 1'' high. Lettuce are close to gather beet & spring spaced apart. It's all new to me but fun to. Hope somebody can help me.
Thanks Jay.

[Husker]

Hi Jay. Thinning is when you remove some of the newly sprouted plants you've sown to make room for the ones you leave to grow to the size you want. It eliminates overcrowding, especially in things like beets, carotts, and radishes. If you don't thin these crops chances are that you'll have all tops and no root because they can't expand in the ground the way they should. They can be thinned so that there's about 2" between the remaining plants and that should give them enough room. I always hate to thin because I always think I'm pulling up the best plants but you try to pull the ones that look the weakest and when they're small it's hard to tell so I just kind of turn a blind eye and start pulling . I will say that this was my first year to grow lettice and I didn't thin it at all and it seemed to be just fine. We had more salads than I could've hoped for off of 2 small rows. But if it's a root crop it really does need to be thinned. I also thin the hills of melons, cucs, and squash down to the 4 healthiest plants from the 10 seeds I've sown to elininate compition, and promote healthier, stronger plants. Hope this helps and if I haven't made things clear please ask. Good luck.

[TommyC41]

Hi, just seen you're reply about thinning i've just joined and that was what i was looking for,
I have read so many bo0ks and you have just gave the easiest explaniation
i have come across, so much appreciated any more handy tips would be good
Thank you

[Pot man UK]

Beetroot are great to thin out as you can then replant the seedilings in new rows. They may look as though they are going to die for a week or 2 then new growth will come and they will have plenty of room to grow nice and large.