Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi I have some calabrese which have germinated nicely on the window sill and are about 2 inches high. What do I do with them now? Do I pot them on or put them in the cold frame still in the seed tray til I can plant them out? How big do they need to be for this?

Thanks

janeyo

I would be inclined to pot them up before the roots get to entangled, and if heaven forbid they get struck with the lurgie they will stand a bettter chance in their own pot rather than all together in a tray.

Thanks, and then put them in the cold frame in the day and bring in again? Or can I leave them in it? It gets quite warm in there.

janeyo

I must say they are the cutest seedlimgs to come up so far! Some of them are not very attractive but these are all round leaves and just well, cute!

It's not the daytime temperatures (as long as the cold frame can be opened and/ or a little shade given) but the night time that you need to worry about. Young calabrese won't be happy with very cold conditions. They are not as tender as something like tomatoes, but you need to give them a chance to get used to cooler conditions gradually. I would be inclined to wait until they have their first proper leaves, but only if you can give them adequate light indoors.

When they're potted up, and a reasonable spell of weather is coming, put them out on warm days (but ventilate carefully) and bring at night for a week or two, then leave them out on mild nights. If a frost comes you need to bring them in or give them adequate cover outside. Rushing will stress the seedlings.

As Paul says, prick them out into their own space sooner rather than later. let them settle into their new pot or cell before starting to harden off.