Sunflower seedlings help

[daisydalrymple]

I got ds one of those tins from Tesco to grow sunflower seeds in. It says after a couple of weeks, remove all but the 3 strongest looking seedlings. Thing is, I got covid then ds had a little op, so it’s been closer to 4 weeks and they’ve all sprouted equally and the tin is quite crowded.
I’m worried about trying to remove them and destroying the roots! Any tips, as I’m not an experienced gardener at all.

Just get a pencil or something similar, loosen the compost gently around the seedlings you want to remove and then pull them out by the leaves. Hopefully they will come out easily. It shouldn't harm the remaining ones if you are gentle. If you leave them crowded they will struggle to flower

You can eat the seedlings! Put them in a salad

Tip them out of the tin, compost and everything but take care not to break the stems. Separate them gently as @peppermum60 suggests. Have the new planting area or pots ready to receive them. Use the pencil to make a space for the roots. Lower them in upto the original soil level, or a wee bit deeper if they're leggy. Then firm the soil/compost round them and give them a good watering.

Sorry if tmi, hope you and DS are both feeling better.

I didn't know you could eat the seedlings, what a good idea.

Ooh thank you so much! I forgot I’d posted this yesterday! We’ll get on with this now thanks all.

Just don't hold the seedlings by their stem. Always by a leaf.

I wouldn't worry too much I always over crowd everything, they'll be fine just be a bit gentle getting them apart. Anyway most things can manage with losing a few roots if the have lots.