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Re: Pricking out

Duncan:
I use two or three tools for pricking out:

One: flat toothpicks.  Great for small seedlings.  Also quite useful in the
summer to transfer pollen.

Two: a tool I picked up from the Pine Tree Garden Seed catalog called a
Nitpicker.  Stainless steel device, about 8" x 1/2", flattened and dished
on both ends.  One end is larger than than the other, giving two sizes.  I
use mine as a dibble in the flat (and the garden), and to lift and separate
seedlings in the seedling flat (I grow in 20-row seedling trays, and the
small end of the nitpicker is the width of the row: I can raise and move
the entire row of seedlings, if desired.  

Three: cafeteria tray.  I move clumps or rows of seedlings to an old
cafeteria tray (I picked up a bunch at a school salvage sale), and tease
them gently apart with fingers and a plastic fork (disposable picnic ware).
The cafeteria tray is large enough to work on, either on the bench or in my
lap.  It is sterilizable, with boiling water or bleach, and doesn't warp or
absorb.  

Newbies, remember that you should NEVER grasp a seedling by the stem. 
Always leaves, because the plant will always put out another leaf.

Rick
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