Separating your plants instead of thinning them out

Get the full bang for your buck! Usually when you buy plants like basil, and other herbs that come from tiny seeds, there will be more than one stem in the pot. (See below)

Here, we have 12 stems in the same pot that cost $3.49. Most people would go straight to planting and cutting the extra stems off… BUT if you’re careful, you can break up the soil around those roots and separate all the plants from each other. That way, you can plant as many as you have (or want) without having to buy more. You also get 2+ plants for the price of one!

This can be a bit tedious, but it does work if you’re on a budget & trying to grow a more than one of the same plant. We planted all 12 of these basil seedlings around the community garden as companion plants to other crops.

One thing to look out for is the seedlings may take a bit more time to establish after being stressed, but most should bounce back.

Happy to answer any questions in the comments!