Courgettes in a Pot

[newgardener]

Hi!

I sowed courgette seeds in April and they're 9 " tall now. Are they ready to be re-potted?

On the seed packet, the instructions state: plant out with 24" between plants each way. Does that mean I need to plant them in 24" pots?

The stems aren't strong enough to hold the plants on their own - I'm using straws as a support. Is that normal?

Is 9" too tall? Should I pinch out a top leaf to discourage them from getting too tall?

I'd be grateful for any advice!

[Two_Sheds]

They are very thin and tall, called "leggy" or "drawn" because they don't have enough light.

If you don't have a greenhouse to start them in, I'd suggest sowing later when it's warmer (end of May for a June planting).

[ginger ninger]

Don't nip the top's out, pot them on into bigger pot's. When you pot them on plant them around 3" deeper than they are now, I suggest potting them into 8" pot's...where are you going to grow them eventually...outside, patio, balcony, green house?

[COMPOST CORNER]

I thought planting them deeper made them rot? They aren't like tomatoes so won't root from the stem.

[Flummery]

I don't plant them deeper either. Some people say they don't rot - I've always found they do. They are a sprawling plant by nature. I've tried them in a pot - you do need a big one and you need to water carefully and also feed. They do much better in the ground. I also think they were sown a touch too early. Mine are only just breaking through the compost.

[sagegreen]

I don't plant them deeper either. Some people say they don't rot - I've always found they do. They are a sprawling plant by nature. I've tried them in a pot - you do need a big one and you need to water carefully and also feed. They do much better in the ground. I also think they were sown a touch too early. Mine are only just breaking through the compost.

Same here, mine are only at their first-leaves stage. You will get a much better crop in open ground.

[Liza]

Pot them up and don't stake them, they don't grow tall more ramble horizontally. You may be lucky but I would pop some new seeds in just in case.

Good luck !

[newgardener]

It makes sense that they're getting "leggy" from not having enough light - they're on a north-facing window sill. I'll try re-potting them into bigger pots and I won't nip the tops or plant them deeper. They'll eventually be on a north-facing balcony - it's my only outside space. I don't have a greenhouse so maybe I'll sow some new seeds at the end of May. Thanks for your advice everyone! :-)