Potting on courgette/cucumbers

[Green Kit]

Hello all!

I have cucumber and courgette seedlings sown in module trays ready to pot on. They are quite tall and a bit leggy already (5"ish) so was going to bury the stem, was also planning on using cardboard pots but I only have 3" pots. Would probably have to put the roots right at the bottom of the pot and then fill up on top, would this be ok or would the roots need more space underneath i.e. a bigger pot? Also, how long would a 3" cardboard pot last for before they need potting on to their final container?

Thanks for any advice!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hi,

Not sure about courgettes but for your cucs. Place a little compost in the bottom of the pot, put the plant as low as possible, if you can get it so the leaves are just above the new compost level that would be great. Water from the bottom but don't let them get to wet and the plant will throw out new roots giving you a stronger plant.

The only trouble you may have is the pots disintigrating before you are ready to pot on again.

Potty

[horticultural_hobbit]

I'd bury the cardboard pot into the next one. My cucumbers are getting taller and taller. I had sown them into modules, and then potted onto the larger pots. I buried my as close to the baby leaves as I could. Currently 5-6 inches tall, and getting their first true leaf. I have observed that they need watering regularly. Water from below, not on the top; cucumbers get snotty about their stems getting wet and don't like drastic changes in temperature. I found that out last year!

Courgettes are equally triffidlike. Again, if in paper pots, pot on upto baby leaves. You might have to pot these on a few times, before planting out.

Both of them, will require hardening off and acclimatising to the outside world.

[Green Kit]

Thank you both. Have followed above advice, plants looking good. Did a couple of each into plastic 5" pots as well as planted too many seeds in the first place, will see which pot they each prefer. Quick question though, I damaged the stem of one first true leaf on courgette plant, it's not snapped just bent. Will it be ok? Seems otherwise ok and has another couple of true leaves now.

Many thanks for your help, and apologies for late reply, I don't get much computer time and then went and forgot my password!

[horticultural_hobbit]

I have a slightly bent true leave stem too, but there is another true leaf sprouting...

[veggiechicken]

Hello Green Kit and welcome!! Don't worry about the bent leaf stem, as long as the main growing tip isn't snapped you'll be fine