"Billy" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Paul M. Cook" wrote:

Since I lost my cucumbers again I decided to try some seedlings this
time.
Went to Lowes. I found the variety I always like to grow but the pots
each
had 4 seedlings in them. They looked pretty healthy but I am not sure if
they would thrive. What does one do, just break them apart, cut them
apart,
maybe soak them to rinse off the soil and tease them apart? I've read
and
experienced that cucurbits are sensitive to root damage. But I cannot
see
buying a single pot with 4 seedlings just to destroy three of them as
some
have suggested elsewhere.

IIRC Kay Lancaster told me about this.

Remove from pot

Hold plants between thumb and index finger with dirt and roots across
the palm of the hand

Hose the roots from bottom to top, repeat as needed

With most of the dirt removed, tease the roots apart, again from the
bottom to the top

Repot
--

I may try it. I was over at Lowes again today and the offerings were pretty
sad. Most of them had powdery mildew or leaf miners. This growing season
is looking to be a very bad one. Last year was great but this year is
turning out to be a real disappointment.

Paul