this post was submitted on 11 May 2026
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Is separating cucumber seedlings while potting up a fool's errand? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by yo_scottie_oh@lemmy.ml to c/gardening@lemmy.world
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I saw some tips around sowing multiple seeds per cell so at least one seed germinates in each cell, and then one either thins the weaker seedlings or carefully separates them while potting them up. I'm still very early in my gardening education, so I thought that's cool, I'll take this approach for my cucumber starts b/c hey why not, and since the thought of thinning seedlings kinda kills my soul, I'll just carefully separate them when I pot them up; however, everything I'm now reading about cucumbers is that they don't transplant well and they're more sensitive to root shock than other crops like tomatoes and peppers. Is thinning each cell down to one the way to go for these cucumber starts or is there hope for my soul? Not that I even have enough pots to move them all into anyway, but where there's a will there's a way...

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[–] AiricaFyresong@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

If there's more than one sprouted, I pick the healthiest of the group and prune the rest right down to the soil. I don't like disturbing the soil and would rather they build strength for transplanting.

[–] yo_scottie_oh@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You do this for all crops or just cucumbers?

[–] AiricaFyresong@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 week ago

I do container gardening in fabric pots mostly, so I group my seeds pretty close. I'll cull extras carefully with all of my seedlings because it's easier than trying to separate them, whether I'm starting in cells or direct sow. This way, their little roots are unaffected and can continue to grow shock-free. The remaining roots of the culled will quickly wither and be reabsorbed.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

If it makes you feel better you can eat the ones you cull. They are edible at this stage.

[–] 20cello@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yep,I plant 3 and keep one alive, cutting the others at the base

[–] yo_scottie_oh@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

For all crops or just cucumbers?

[–] 20cello@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

Basically all the crops I sow in pots, even beets and salads because it is safer than uprooting them with all the roots because there is no risk of breaking the roots of the plant you want to keep

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago

Try half one way, half the other, see what works for you.

[–] clew@ecoevo.social 2 points 1 week ago

Not absolutely, but it’s finickier than the other approach (pinch off the weaker plant in each cell, up-pot when the cells are root knit). Sowing thickly and separating tiny is often called “pricking out” if that helps.

If you want to separate, don’t let the cells get root bound.

Nb: stem more vital than leaves, and as fragile when tiny; handle by leaves or root ball.

Apologies if this was not a request for advice!

@yo_scottie_oh

[–] The_v@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

For most people, transplanting cucumbers is a waste of time. Reason: you generally don't make the harvest any earlier than direct seeding. Cucumbers are finicky to transplant and it's generally isn't worth it unless you are geowinf them in a greenhouse and know what you are doing. Commercially almost 100% of open field production is direct seeded (100% of greenhouse production is transplanted).

If it is warm enough outside, transplant them immediately. Don't worry about thinning them, give them a little bit more space per hill and they will do fine. Make sure to do it in the evening and water them well.