What To Do With Thinnings?

twodaend 6/19/2012, 8:20 pm

Today was the first time I tried thinning. (Thankx to ANSFG) I thinned my sweet corn and a few lettuce sprouts that have their true leaves. However, what do I do with the thinnings as just throwing them away does not seem right? I don't have a home compost yet, so do I just burry them in the soil? I have a few empty squares so I can add them there as to not disturbe the roots, but I'm not sure what to do with them.

Thanks

CharlesB 6/19/2012, 8:23 pm

I just use a scissors and cut them up in to small pieces and place around plants as a green mulch to help them retain moisture. They will eventually make their way back to being nutrients for your plants or the worms.

You are better off not burying them but leaving them on top or very close to the top of the soil.

**camprn** 6/19/2012, 8:57 pm

If you have successfully pulled them up roots and all, and if you have room else where, go ahead and replant them.

You can eat the lettuce.

Go ahead and start a pile, somewhere, anywhere. Wink

Squat_Johnson 6/20/2012, 11:16 am

camprn wrote:
Go ahead and start a pile, somewhere, anywhere.

The biggest challenge is making/finding good compost. Start a compost pile.

My favorite lazy method - pile up anything that does not have seeds. Run over with mower couple times. Rake onto tarp. Add to pile. Turn pile. Add water. Wait.

ramarks 6/20/2012, 11:19 am

I like the sound of the lazy method - always my go-to plan.

**rowena___.** 6/20/2012, 11:19 am

start a rubbermaid bin composter. i keep them all over the yard, so i don't have to haul stuff all over the yard. Smile

http://www.romesticity.com/2011/05/laissez-faire-composting.html

**Kelejan** 6/20/2012, 3:01 pm

Some thinnings you can eat. eg lettuce.

carrie.draher 6/20/2012, 3:36 pm

I've just thinned out what I call my "sacrificial crop to nasty flea beetles" surrounding my corn. I planted turnips this time around the perimeter - those beetles will eat anything green - and I wanted to protect the new shoots of corn. I did not do this on my first planting of corn - and lost about half of what I planted. I stagger-planted some more corn - but planted the turnips around the bed. The baby greens were delicious in a salad. I washed and chopped them, even the little roots - that would have matured into turnips. Yummy!

Missed-Em 6/20/2012, 9:28 pm

Hi, neighbor - I didn't have a compost pile eather, took 4 concrete blocks placed them two parrallel to the other two with the back against a mullbery tree - magic, it's a compost pile. Gone on to better setups but it's a way to start.

mijejo 6/20/2012, 10:58 pm

rowena,

How did you become so wise?

I just love all that you are teaching us!

**rowena___.** 6/21/2012, 10:16 am

mijejo wrote:rowena,

How did you become so wise?

age, and plenty of mistakes. Smile

I just love all that you are teaching us!

ah, we are all learning together! i have gleaned quite a bit of wisdom from the forums. i just kept it to myself until i got over my natural shyness and introversion. Wink

**Turan** 6/21/2012, 11:03 am

I use thinnings as mulch. Just lay them down between the plants that are left.

elysia 6/21/2012, 2:04 pm

I totally did not believe this when I read it but I was able to successfully transplant most of the carrots I thinned a few weeks ago - all but one or two (out of 32) seem to be thriving. What To Do With Thinnings? 832433

**walshevak** 6/22/2012, 10:53 am

great news. I hate to throw away perfectly good seedlings too.

Kay

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