Thinning seedlings

Planted a packet of each of parsnip (Avon Resistor) and carrot (early Nantes) seeds a few weeks ago and they are starting to sprout.

Whilst the carrots sprouted first the parsnips are starting to grow better, I think it may be my crusty soil! The carrot seedlings are coming up in clumps wheres the parsnips are in lovely even lines. I did though plant them quite generously and know that I need to thin them out. My question is when?

They are currently only around a centimeter high and almost all have only seed leaves. Is it too soon to thin out?

Thanks,

Gren

 

Thanks JWK!

Like the sound of the baby carrots. What size leaves would these edible babies be or is it trial and error?

 

Thinning them will give off scent which will attract the carrot fly ... I have read of people cutting the tops (of thinnings) off with scissors, rather than pulling them up, but I don't know if that makes a difference.

If they are protected against carrot fly (with mesh) then go-for-it, obviously :thumb:

 

"What size leaves would these edible babies b"

I just rub round the shoulder of the carrots, to push the soil away a bit, and then pull ones which are "big enough". The rest then have more space to grow, and get bigger.

But they need to be an inch apart, or so, to get going in the first place - although 3 all growing in the same spot will push each other apart if there is space along side [i.e. between the rows]

 

I hate thinning out seedlings, it seems so cruel, but I understand the reasoning behind it. We have sown what were advertised as baby carrots this year. The plan is to start picking them to eat and so thin them out in the process. As we munch on them over the weeks, we will leave the remainder to grow in to full sized carrots.