Q&A: My plants seem crowded. What should I do?

If your garden feels crowded this time of year, that’s not a bad thing — it’s abundance in action! At Tennessee Kitchen Gardens, we plant intensively, knowing we’ll thin and harvest as the season unfolds. Thinning isn’t wasteful; it’s an opportunity to enjoy tender greens and herbs while giving remaining plants more space to thrive. Pull what’s struggling, snip what’s shading others, and get creative with your harvest — add radish thinnings to salads or toss extra greens into scrambled eggs. A little intentional thinning keeps your garden productive and beautiful, and your kitchen full of fresh flavor.