I often put 4 seedlings into a tray cell that size, one in each corner. As soon as they grow two pairs of true leaves (much smaller than those in the photo), I use an ice tea spoon to scoop out each corner's tomato plant and transplant into a 9 oz. plastic cup. I just use the spoon to cut through the roots. I never lose one, and the plants I grow are just as healthy as they would be if each was started in a separate cell.

I'm in OC as well. I went against the advice of some here and actually planted outside in pots back in Jan/Feb from seed. I transplanted them into the ground around March 1. 2 plants were eaten overnight to the ground(orange/strawberry), a few died in the heavy rains in the first week, but I now have 80% of the transplants doing FABULOUS. I went on vacation for a week and left with about 4" plants. I had to stake them when i got back-they had nearly TRIPLED in size in that one week! So, by all means, harden them off NOW and next year, experiment with winter sowing them.

I'm confused - don't agents work for the insurance companies? I'm not an insurance expert by any means but isn't there some possibility of liability down the road if an incident isn't reported? Say there's a problem with the car that isn't immediately noticeable so the Mercedes dealership won't fix it later on when it becomes apparent and neither will your insurance since it wasn't reported. Then you might be liable to fix it yourself since there's no proof or record anywhere with your insurance. You might want to get a second opinion Glenda. You seem to be doing just what you are told and not questioning it, but sometimes people are self-serving and not necessarily looking out for your best interests. It can't hurt to get some additional information.

I no longer grow corn due to the tree rats! The raccoons are just as bad. But I refuse to give up on my tomatoes. IIRC the three sisters worked off vining squashes and the hills were more on the order of a yard apart. As close as these are planted thin the hills to 1 plant per hill, a scissors at the ground level like suggested above and yesterday is better than today and tomorrow is better late than never. Part of the process was also staggered planting with all the plants directly seeded; so the corn got enough jump to grow out above the squashes and be tall enough for the beans to have something to climb without overtopping an potentially smoothering the corn stalks. There was a balance to it all and a matter of careful timing. Interesting corn fact: it is estimated that the Aztec empire whose staple was maize prospered on yields of something like 15 or 16 bushels per acre. Most commercial farmers now get around 200.