Leggy Squashes

[Trixie74]

I seeded a variety of squashes inc courgettes and giant pumpkin. Figured on doing one of each per month Mar - May and seeing what happens. There are 7 in total each a different variety (I have said before I'm going for the grow everything approach and we do love squashes)

All of them germinated - literally up to 3" in a day and have now gone super leggy. I reckon at least 6" with only 2 leaves (some of them have leaves that aren't fully formed).

Did a google on leggy courgettes - some people say repot deeper, other say get them planted out, other say start again.....trusting you guys to come up with a sensible solution.

Only got allotment in May last year so not really used to getting everything growing at home.

Oh they were in 3" pots in a unheated propagator indoors until they germinated.

Thanks
Trina

[alan refail]

Hi Trixie/Trina

I hate to dampen beginners' enthusiasm

I sow my courgettes and squashes about 24 April and they are ready to plant outside in early June.

Early sown ones are likely to go leggy (for lack of light) and have to be kept frost free until fear of frost is past and they can be planted out - and don't they just grow fast! I think you will do better with the ones you sow next month. Best of luck.

Alan

[sally wright]

Dear Trixie,
sow courgettes and pumpkins around six weeks before planting out date. for this ask others in your neighbourhood as this can vary by about a month between the south and north of the country. For butternuts and turks turbans you will need eight weeks. Sow them into small containers about two inches (5cms) and when they are big enough pot up into 4-5 inch pots. The seedling should be placed into this pot as low down as possible but not covering the seed leaves.
To gain maximum germination the seeds should not be covered completely with soil as they need light to initiate growth.
Beware of slugs and snails as they adore young cucurbit plants, they also like the flowers later on. I have had serious losses from this flower eating.
Regards Sally Wright.

[Trixie74]

OK thanks - we are well past frost here in the Isle of Man cos we are at the tail end of the gulf stream. Its only the past couple of years we've had frost at all.

Was going off the instructions on the packet (seamed to work last year). Just put them outside - if they keel over they keel over.

[FelixLeiter]

I put off sowing squashes until the middle of May. I've even sown them in the first week of June, with good results. It's not just about keeping them frost-free: they really need warmth and light. Your seedlings are leggy at the moment because they're getting the warmth, but not the light, forcing them into growth that they cannot properly sustain. I can appreciate that your part of the world is almost frost-free, but unless they get some quite significant warmth during the day (which in the north west most certainly hasn't happened yet, unlike in the rest of the country) I can't see that these earliest sowings are going to prevail. You also need to ensure that they do not receive a check in growth (from being left in a small container for too long, or from experiencing shortage of water) as they do not easily recover from this. Although it's fair to assume that early sowings under glass will give a head start, if they become pot-bound or are allowed to dry out, any advantage gained will be lost.

[Trixie74]

Squash update - one has keeled over. Don't think I'll give them TLC repotting or planing deeper just in case they do nothing - there's enough to do at this time of year.

I knew I could trust you guys to give sensible answers.