Team Pick It Off in Team Pick It Off, or Team Leave It Be?

By Trish
February 11, 2015

Many gardeners are beginning to start their seeds as spring approaches. Each gardener has their own way of doing things, so let's find out which team you are on!

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rosegarden

Feb 14, 2015 10:01 AM CST

Thank you to all the people for the moistening idea. I have also decapitated the occasional seedling by accident but can't leave the "hat" on either.

| @rosegarden | Post #788732 (1)

karmatree

Feb 14, 2015 2:39 PM CST

Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.

I'm a picker...can't keep my paws off. I enjoy grooming my plants and I guess it starts with the seed hat! Funny thread...cheers!

"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden

| @karmatree | Post #789057 (2)

mabarberdo

Feb 15, 2015 6:32 AM CST

Name: Mark
Devers, Texas (Zone 9a)

Alas, my shame is exposed. I pick it off - believing I really shouldn't be doing this.

| @mabarberdo | Post #789554 (3)

abhege

Feb 15, 2015 7:44 AM CST

Name: Arlene
Grantville, GA (Zone 8a)

Ah, but now you know you are in good company and there is no shame!

| @abhege | Post #789586 (4)

chelle

Feb 27, 2015 1:47 PM CST

Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..

I just tried my first "picking", but really it was more like surgery.

Even after soaking the seed coat in wrapped tissue paper, the crazy thing still wasn't softening, so I nicked it off with nail clippers. It had been there a month already, so really, I had to do something.

That's a lovely tip, BTW.

Thanks!

Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens

| @chelle | Post #799827 (5)

chelle

Mar 5, 2015 1:14 PM CST

Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..

My "picked" seedling perished anyway, so I guess I'll have to try sprouting another. Still, it was fun to try.

Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens

| @chelle | Post #803979 (6)

abhege

Mar 5, 2015 4:16 PM CST

Name: Arlene
Grantville, GA (Zone 8a)

Aww, sorry. It just wasn't meant to be. A phrase i heard recently, "failure to thrive."

| @abhege | Post #804134 (7)

dyzzypyxxy

Mar 5, 2015 4:26 PM CST

Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change

Maybe 'pick' it right away, instead of waiting a month, chelle? The seed coat might be softer, and the cotyledons will have a chance to develop and help the baby make roots then, too.

Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill

| @dyzzypyxxy | Post #804139 (8)

beckygardener

Mar 5, 2015 4:39 PM CST

Name: Becky
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

I usually wet a piece of paper towel and cover the seed head to help soften it. Then after a few hours to a day, I remove the wet paper towel wrapped around that seed head which usually softens the seed shell enough for safely remove it without (hopefully) damaging the seedling plant.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden

| @beckygardener | Post #804148 (9)

chelle

Mar 5, 2015 6:15 PM CST

Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..

dyzzypyxxy said:Maybe 'pick' it right away, instead of waiting a month, chelle? The seed coat might be softer, and the cotyledons will have a chance to develop and help the baby make roots then, too.

Yep. I'm sure that being trapped for a month didn't do it any favors. It was a last-ditch effort this time, but at least now I have the requisite loss out of the way, and a good idea of what to do to succeed next time around.

Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens

| @chelle | Post #804222 (10)

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