When would be the best time to cut off the starting leaves
The true leaves started growing on my cucumbers and I was just wondering when would be the best time to cut off the starting leaves since I heard thats helpful
by UnwashedAndUnfunny
18 Comments
btownbub
No need to cut them off, just let the plant grow!
Slight_Parsley_4860
Seconding that, I’ve never trimmed them
chipper-frost
That’s not remotely helpful.
ZinniasAndBeans
No need to cut them off. I’m curious as to what source said to?
adognameddanzig
Cut then the same time nature does, which is never.
steamedbun8
Don’t. They’re storing and providing energy to your seedlings to grow.
Chile-Habanero
Are you thinking of peppers?
Let the cucumbers grow!
Ifawumi
why would you ever cut leaves off of young growing plants? even peppers that there’s so many people who say cut them, a lot of the professional and expert pepper growers who grow monsters do not cut them and tell people to stop cutting them.
let a baby plant grow!
Super-Cod-3155
Don’t do that, fruiting plants need all the energy they can get.
HighColdDesert
Is that advice from tiktok? Who ever said that you should cut off the seed leaves?!
gard3nwitch
Why would you do that?
CitrusBelt
They’ll fall off on their own, when the time comes (much like an umbilical cord remnant for a mammal, or the yolk sac of a reptile….if that makes sense)
The more important question is “Why are you transplanting cucurbits (as opposed to direct sown)?”
There are valid reasons for *some* folks to do so, but for most folks who live in a reasonable climate that ain’t the case.
[The sorts that’ll suggest you do so willl often be the same ones who’re trying to sell you grossly overpiced “seed starting” setups, if you get my drift….]
UnwashedAndUnfunny
I see I see, thank you for the advice, I’ll be so honest I have no real memory of where I saw this information and do feel slightly silly for thinking it, HOWEVER I am glad I asked before doing anything
Any_Flamingo8978
Don’t. But what’s your thought process behind it?
denvergardener
Good grief y’all need to stop watching bad advice on Tik Tok.
maine-iak
Everyone is saying don’t which is correct. I hope it’s ok to offer a little botany leason as to why you don’t want to cut those leaves. The round leaves are called cotyledons, they are the two halves inside the seed that make up the bulk of the seed. They contain all the nutrients the plant needs to start growing, sort of like an egg yolk as someone else said. For plants that grow fast, like microgreens, cucumbers or squash and won’t be in a container for long you don’t need to use fertilizer or soil amendments at this stage because it’s all there in the cotyledon. For what it’s worth I always start my cukes inside because I live somewhere with a short growing season with heavy wet clay soil that is slow to warm up so I like to give them a jump start in the spring. Best of luck to you and keep asking questions!
WhimsicalHoneybadger
Never.
Where dod you get that erroneous idea?
GlyphPicker
Always leave the cotyledons (initial leaves) alone, they provide the first chance for photosynthesis.
The “time” you should be aware of is when the FIRST TRUE LEAVES show up. Those are the leaves that appear after the cotyledons. When the first true leaves appear, the seedling is generally ready to be transplanted.
18 Comments
No need to cut them off, just let the plant grow!
Seconding that, I’ve never trimmed them
That’s not remotely helpful.
No need to cut them off. I’m curious as to what source said to?
Cut then the same time nature does, which is never.
Don’t. They’re storing and providing energy to your seedlings to grow.
Are you thinking of peppers?
Let the cucumbers grow!
why would you ever cut leaves off of young growing plants? even peppers that there’s so many people who say cut them, a lot of the professional and expert pepper growers who grow monsters do not cut them and tell people to stop cutting them.
let a baby plant grow!
Don’t do that, fruiting plants need all the energy they can get.
Is that advice from tiktok? Who ever said that you should cut off the seed leaves?!
Why would you do that?
They’ll fall off on their own, when the time comes (much like an umbilical cord remnant for a mammal, or the yolk sac of a reptile….if that makes sense)
The more important question is “Why are you transplanting cucurbits (as opposed to direct sown)?”
There are valid reasons for *some* folks to do so, but for most folks who live in a reasonable climate that ain’t the case.
[The sorts that’ll suggest you do so willl often be the same ones who’re trying to sell you grossly overpiced “seed starting” setups, if you get my drift….]
I see I see, thank you for the advice, I’ll be so honest I have no real memory of where I saw this information and do feel slightly silly for thinking it, HOWEVER I am glad I asked before doing anything
Don’t. But what’s your thought process behind it?
Good grief y’all need to stop watching bad advice on Tik Tok.
Everyone is saying don’t which is correct. I hope it’s ok to offer a little botany leason as to why you don’t want to cut those leaves. The round leaves are called cotyledons, they are the two halves inside the seed that make up the bulk of the seed. They contain all the nutrients the plant needs to start growing, sort of like an egg yolk as someone else said. For plants that grow fast, like microgreens, cucumbers or squash and won’t be in a container for long you don’t need to use fertilizer or soil amendments at this stage because it’s all there in the cotyledon. For what it’s worth I always start my cukes inside because I live somewhere with a short growing season with heavy wet clay soil that is slow to warm up so I like to give them a jump start in the spring. Best of luck to you and keep asking questions!
Never.
Where dod you get that erroneous idea?
Always leave the cotyledons (initial leaves) alone, they provide the first chance for photosynthesis.
The “time” you should be aware of is when the FIRST TRUE LEAVES show up. Those are the leaves that appear after the cotyledons. When the first true leaves appear, the seedling is generally ready to be transplanted.
For what to direct sow instead, [see my other post](https://www.reddit.com/r/vegetablegardening/s/CoSkRNly7z)
good luck 🙂