Re: Starting seedlings

Well, Margot, I guess I am in too big a hurry to get them going on their own. 
 B/c I transplant B4 they get their second leaves.  They are much easier to 
handle that way and I experience less risk of damaging them.  

By the time they get their true leaves, they have a lot of root structure and 
the "tap" root on some things can be so long that its very difficult to 
transplant w/o damaging it.  Some things don't seem to live if you damage 
that tap root.  

Other seedlings with a lot of "feeder" roots get so tangled up together that 
they are nearly impossible to separate w/o damaging them.

This is just my experience.  I've tried both and this works best for me.  As 
you've seen Deborah Moll waits until they are farther along.  This works for 
her and may for you too.  The difference, I'm guessing, is in how thick we 
sow the seed initially and the percentage of germination.

I never know what to expect by way of germination.  Every Rudbeckia seed 
germinated for me this year!!  They were so very thick that I picked out the 
largest (with a pencil) about once a week. I doubt if I could have separated 
them if I had waited until they had their second leaves.  

On the other hand, some things germinated so sparsely that I was able to wait 
until they had grown a good deal.  With those I simply scooped them out with 
a teaspoon with all the dirt I could get.

I hope others will respond to your question also b/c everyone has little 
"tricks."  I was interested to see Deborah's comment about not putting them 
back under the lights right away.  

I have only 2 cautions:  don't let the roots be exposed to air any longer 
than absolutely necessary.  And be sure not to mist them so heavily the 
really spindly ones lay down.  I also like to get most of the dirt off the 
leaves.  

Best wishes and please let us know how you get along with your babies 
Barb
USDA Zone 5, Rock Island, IL
"What this country needs is dirtier fingernails & cleaner minds."  Will Rogers

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