courgette sowing?

[janeyo]

I'm always great with the theory - OH constantly tells me I know loads (generally of really useful info, not!).... but it's the darn practice that lets me down. Maybe a little knowledge with me is dangerous!

janeyo

[Cutecumber]

Ah yes, but too much knowledge is far, far worse

[Herbie]

Ive sown a patio courgette variety. They have come through as I did them in a heated propagator. I couldn't believe it, they have gown so quickly. I've never grown them before. They are about 3inches high, I've turned the propagaor off.

Would they be ok in an unheated greenhouse or should I put them on a warm window sill for a bit?

[Flummery]

Only if it doesn't get down to freezing in there - they are very juicy plants! Mine (I have a max/min thermometer in there) has been down to or below freezing every night but one in the last week.

[JohnVisual]

i have three courgette plants all about 2 weeks old with second set of ture leafs now forming but 2 of them are about 4" tall and the other on is only about 2" tall, when should i start feeding them and what with?

Cheers John

[Flummery]

Seed compost should have enough nourishment for 6 - 8 weeks of growth. I wouldn't feed them till then.

[JohnVisual]

ok will do, what should i give them when is time to feed? Also do they grow well in pots, had them in the ground last year and they got badld eaten by snails. Is so what size pots are best?

[Flummery]

Big as you can. Most of mine went in the ground last year but my best fruiter was one that I put in a shrub tub because I ran out of room. M xture of general purpose compost and garden soil. When they are fruiting I use tomato food. Sometimes I use seaweed extract. Depends what I've got around. You can tell I'm a very particular sort of gardener can't you?

[veg4681]

ok will do, what should i give them when is time to feed? Also do they grow well in pots, had them in the ground last year and they got badld eaten by snails. Is so what size pots are best?

At least 12" diameter in size pot or bigger. Some of these storage boxes are large too or flexi tub trug (with handles) as various container options as I know big pots can be very expensive. Unfortunately these slugs can still climb up pots esp if the leaves are trailing and touching the ground so the higher up they are, the better.

[Winged one]

I have one, sown maybe 6 weeks ago, which has 5 leaves and OH noticed a tiny baby courgette starting (he thinks) on that already. It is potted on, but in a mini greenhouse (planned for plot). I have a yellow courgette, started about 4 weeks ago, with 2 tiny true leaves showing last night - still on window sill.

I sowed another 2 seeds per pot - 1 pot each of the yellow and green variety I have (4 seeds total) last night. Will probably thin to best, but may try to keep both (we love courgettes here) if both come through of each. But probably won't as had 2 seeds per module on previous sowings and only 25% germination rate (old seed admittedly).

I have kept the last few seeds for a may/june sowing, hoping to prolong cropping into late summer.

[moggssue]

Last year I sowed three courgettes in mid April, two in the ground and one in a pot. The two in the ground did far better than the one in the pot (though I now think it probably just wasn't big enough and they didn't get enough water). I had plenty of courgettes right through until the frosts in the autumn - I think there are other things which would benefit from being sown and looked after now, leave the courgettes a wee bit longer. (But then, many others on here know far more than me )

[Alison]

Will proably sow my first courgettes in a couple of weeks time - have tried earlier sowings and have found that the crop is only marginally earlier and you have a very large plant to try and protect from frost - not really worth it for me. With the exception of last year which was a rubbish year for me, I usually end up with loads later in the year so it's not like I'm missing out, often use combine with any glut of toms to make some lovely pasta sauces for the freezer which I can enjoy over the winter.

[momol]

I have sowed mine squashes a week (or 10 days ago), they are now forming their first leaf. I sowed only 1 to 4 seeds per type. Not that I plan to grow that much, will only grow 1 to 2 plant (of each type) and the extra were for my MIL and her brother .
They are still at the windowsill as it is too cold to get out there. Hopefully the weather improves and by early may, they will be ready .