A few of the mix’s seed may have been better adapted to the soil you are growing in and may have outgrown other seeds in the mix. If there are not enough plants left in the mesclun rows, lettuce that is already growing in another row might be added to the mix. Seeds can be saved from any type of green, if the plant is allowed to bolt to seed. Some plants will grow faster than others and as they’re removed, others grow up to take their place. You can also broadcast the seeds over an area, instead of planting in a row. Sowing Mesclun Seeds: Mesclun seeds are very fine. Sow the seeds. When you planted your seeds, you likely scattered a few of them in the soil. Suggestions: Mesclun needs plenty of moisture. Otherwise your plants will grow long and leggy, not exactly what you want for salad greens. What that means is cutting out the extra ones. Mesclun greens are typically enjoyed as a quick, convenient, and flavorful addition to your salad bowl. ). Step by Step Thinning of Seedlings: Illustrations: Step 1. Now that they’ve grown a little bit, there are a few of them that are really close to each other. To sow mesclun seeds, pour them into your hand, hold your hand about a foot above well-worked soil, and then scatter the seed, trying to plant roughly 1/4- to … A crop of mesclun can overwinter in some parts of the country. Proper plant spacing is crucial for growing healthy plants (and harvesting tons of amazing food! Hi all, when I planted my mesclun I wasn't sure how big the individual plants would be since it's a mixture, so I decided to scatter the seed in the squares I want to plant it in. As plants begin to crowd, pick individual leaves regularly for use. Plant mesclun seeds every 2", covering firmly with soil. Seeds perform differently in different soils. SAVING SEEDS. 3. They are typically cultivated 2-4 times, and not allowed to go to seed. How to Grow Mesclun: Transplanting: If sown indoors, transplant outdoors when there are at least two sets of true leaves Spacing: Space or thin seedlings 1-2 inches apart Lighting: Site in full sun to light shade Soil: Site in a slightly acid to neutral, moist, well-drained soil. Even though the thought of thinning seedlings can be really hard, learning how to thin seedlings is important. If you're thinning a crop of lettuce seedlings, you can actually add the tiny thinnings to your next salad. Cover lightly with soil and water well. ... you do not have to thin crowded seedlings … Hard as it may be, thinning seedlings will result in a better crop. This makes a great use of space, so long as you harvest within the first few weeks so the rest can grow to a large-size. The seed pods can typically be allowed to dry out on the plant. Do thin if there’s an especially crowded place. Why is my mesclun mix only one or two plants? Wet the soil. 4. It’s been a few weeks and the seedlings are starting to grow, so now it’s time to thin them out. Also, fall crops may have to be started indoors since it may have a difficult time even germinating in hot weather. Thinning seedlings is a necessary evil when it comes to growing seeds. Not too thick, not too thin. Give it a good soak. When planting in rows, spread the seeds as thinly as possible. Stick your trowel down a few inches to make sure you’ve saturated the soil beneath the surface. I usually err on the side of too thick, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart. No matter how hard you try, the seeds are difficult to disperse with the proper spacing. Plant Your Seeds Germination rates typically vary from 70 to 90 percent, so you should plant more seeds than you think you'll really need. With lettuce, spinach, arugula, radishes, beets, turnips, any of the mesclun mixes and even large greens like kale, I sow more densely and harvest thinned out seedlings to eat. Mesclun FAQs. You can thin … Thin plants to 6" apart when they display 2-3 leaves. When planting seed mixes (mesclun) we don’t worry too much about immediate thinning. Well, now the plants are about 3 inches high- do you think I should thin them to 4 per square?