Feeling sorry for seedlings

[patandchickens]

Is it just me, or PLEASE tell me there is at least SOMEONE else out there who feels just terrible about thinning a planting or discarding the weaker seedlings from a flat?

I somewhat overplanted my earliest lettuce seeding, and even though the weebliest dozen are going to the chickens who will (briefly) much appreciate them, I feel sad as always, like I am somehow failing or betraying them


Pat

 

[setter4]

I HATE thinning! Seems like such a waste. I usually eat the lettuce seedlings.

 

[curly_kate]

Oh my gosh - I ABSOLUTELY hate thinning! I call it 'planticide.' I usually do it early because it's easier when they haven't gotten too big, otherwise it feels like even more of a waste.

 

[Gazinga]

I find thinning disturbing! i always want to squeeze just a couple extra together so i dont wast all the beautiful vegi crop that came up, somehow i feel like im jinxing things by praying for teh crop to come up and then pulling them out when i get "too many"

 

[Reinbeau]

Pat, I know exactly how you feel, I hate to kill those babies, too!

Seriously, I try to sow seeds thinly so I don't have to, but you just can't avoid it - especially carrots!

 

[momofdrew]

OMG get a grip people... If you dont thin you have over crowding and then they all die or do poorly...I really dont think lettuce seedlings have feelings... feed your chickens the thinnings they will love you for it...see chickens have feelings...

 

[Reinbeau]

It's not a feeling thing for me, it's a waste thing, I want every single seed to grow into a beautiful and/or delicious plant!

 

[Gazinga]

same here, no waste wanted here. but i care for those darn chookies....

 

[patandchickens]

Yeah, what Reinbeau said - it just seems like a waste of a perfectly good seed Even fed to the chickens, it *could* have grown to an actual useful SIZE before feeding them if I'd just sown them better.

Pat, having felt this way all my life and not expecting to ever get really reconciled with it

 

[bid]

I always feel like I am wasting plants when thinning. On the other hand, the robins were out there thinning for me this morning and they didn't seem to mind a bit. They were quite busy in one of the beds out front and they looked pretty happy so maybe they left me some and they gave me a bit of entertainment too.