They're far too small to handle. Best to pull some out (try repotting them if you really want) for space so the roots of the remaining ones don't get tangled then wait until they're a lot sturdier before repotting the them.
If you're going to just thin them out then yes use your fingers. If you're going to try to repot them then use something long and thin and scoopy to try and pull out a plug of soil without disturbing the root (there's probably only one per seedling at this point) too much. Not in the same pot. If you've only got the one pot then just thin them out, don't rearrange them as you'll only end up disturbing the others while potentially killing the ones you do move. How many thyme plants do you need, anyway? Even one can grow to quite a substantial size.
The rim of that pot is a bit too high so you've ended up with some really leggy seedlings growing as tall as they can to catch the sun over the edge. Something to consider for next time*.
*If this happens with anything solanaceae (tomatoes, chillies, peppers, some others) it can be a good thing as they'll put out more roots if you pile soil around their exposed stalks.
Is there some reason why you couldn't leave the seeds together and grow a type of mega-thyme? Gently twist the stalks around one another to create a thick, entwined trunk; then further up encourage each seperate plant out to its own section?
I'm thinking competition of resources might trouble the roots. Could you affect an even distribution of minerals across a large space to mitigate this risk? Or perhaps create borders between seeds, so route growth can be directed away from the others.
Completely unrelated - a while ago i noticed nettles have a tendancy to grow new shoots at about a 90 degree angle from one another. How hard do you suppose it would be to graft sections of two nettles, as pictured? You could have an entire wall latticed with nettles, full of aphids and ant colonies.
I'm trying to grow Bindweed in a paper tub and the dried contents of teabags.
I did a float test on the seeds and and attempted a germination test (it dries too quickly and I don't have a spray bottle to regularly water it).
I've now planted 4 seeds but the soil is growing a fine layer of mould over the top :(
How am I supposed to do this? I even bought an egg box to grow saplings but it's currently holding the eggs.
Float tests aren't particularly useful, they only work for some quite specific plants. An easier germination test might just be seeds with a moist paper towel in a sealed plastic bag or tupperware.
If your soil is growing mould it's probably a bit too moist.
Why in god's name are you trying to grow bindweed?
>>3046 Thanks for the tips - I overlooked the sealed plastic bag in the tutorials I watched, that'll keep the moisture in.
>Why in god's name are you trying to grow bindweed?
I'd like to train it to grow around a mirror, which I think would look nice. A couple years worth of neatly grown bindweed might make a nice frame, contrast between the dead and living lines. Also useful as basic twine for light garden work.
It's one of the seeds I collected from the garden. I also have cow parsley and dandilion, but would prefer to try nettles next.
Have you considered using Morning Glory rather than actual Bindweed? You'll get a similar effect without encouraging Bindweed, and the flowers are much nicer. Plus, if you buy the seed from a shop you know they were harvested at the right time.
