I visited my plot the other day to do some weeding and noticed that the beetroots were coming along nicely but they could do with a bit more room inbetween them to spread out. I got out my trusty hand fork and thought that the transplants would make at least 2 additional rows and this would save me having to sow more seeds. After I had finished thinning them out, I had actually made 4 more rows from the thinnings that would generally have been discarded.
While I was on a roll, I decided to give the turnips the same treatment. They looked a little overcrowded and were screaming to be allocated a little more room. They looked a little sorry for themselves after I had moved them, but within a few days they will have perked up no end, grateful for the extra room to spread out.
I mentioned what I had done to Andy about thinning them out and to my surprise he said that he had been thinning them out recently and had thrown the unwanted plants away!!!
Well, I truly believe that if a plant has taken the time and effort to grow then who am I to discard it completely! My mission is to grow as much as we can to provide for our families but if we dispose of perfectly good plants then that defeats our purpose.
The beetroots and turnips are now replanted into additional rows around the plot and will grow quite happily now that they have room to breathe!
Happy diggin’
Debb
digginwivdebb 
Hi there
Can I ask – how far apart do you plant your beetroot please?
I agree with you I hate to throw away plants, especially veggies.
Hi. I normally thin them out to at least 6″. If you have more space then you can go for about 8″. Beetroot can be harvested small or left to grow bigger; about the size of a tennis ball is ideal for the bigger roots. Hope that helps. Debb.
You are a great help, thank you so much for replying.
I am really enjoying your blog as I get so much great information, thank you
I just started doing the same thing with thinnings: transplanting them. Otherwise, what a waste of seed and growing time.
My thoughts exactly Michelle.
I need to work at thinning out the weeds, we had a day of rain and a week of sunshine. I have found a strange plant that it winding it’s way up my tomatoes and trying to strangle them 😦
Weeds don’t need thinning….they need removing!!! Lol
I agree that it’s such a shame to destroy seedlings. At the allotments I suppose we are all guilty at times of scattering too many seeds, but we carry surplus seedlings tenderly to other allotment holders and most people can find a bit of space.
I’m definitely guilty of sowing too many seeds. But like you say, we can always pass the extras on to others.
My turnips, radishes and kohlrabi are just coming up, are just coming up, and I hope to get the chance to thin them out. My two little dogs have taken to ‘helping’ me in the garden, to which problem I have several solutions, but none of which I can put into action right now, so fingers crossed! I am so glad to read of others thinning and replanting! Nice to be reminded I am not the odd one, lol!!
I really hate waste and my mission was to grow food… in any way, shape or form. So if that means having the odd extra row of veg planted out of sequence, so be it! They will taste all the more sweeter for being given a second chance! X
Just thinned out my Swedes and Turnips a few days ago. I think most gardeners don’t like wasting thinnings including me., but if they are not re-planted they can still be of use, via the compost heap.
Very true, Rooko. I still find it hard to throw them away though. I always plant too much stuff and end up giving it away. It’s great to see the stuff growing on others plots rather than in the compost heap.