Knowing when to plant out

[MrsCordial]

I've discovered that seedlings are like puppies - fine when they're small, but a more scary proposition when they grow! I now have quite sizable cucumber and pumpkin seedlings - this is one of the cucs (Wautoma), just to give you an idea:



Today I bought a 10ft long cloche from ALDI - it was a bit of a whim but it was reduced - so I wondered if it was safe yet to plant out the cucs and pumpkins if I protected them? DH is going to make me some cold frames but I can't be entirely sure that's going to happen this weekend We're having pretty neutral weather here atm - 13-14 degs, cloudy, bit drizzly. Not cold but hardly a heatwave.

[Kristen]

Cucurbits (which includes both Cucumbers and Squash) hate cold. Frost will kill them, but chilly will make their leaves go like paper and shrivel up, their growth will stall, and they will assume that there is bad weather ahead and shut down until they have had prolonged heat to get them going again. So personally I would avoid any possibility of cold, let alone frost, when planting them out. Minimum night temperatures of 10C would be my target planting out date; up this way that would be some time in May. Even if you spot a warm spell coming, the plants still won't like any cold spell which follows - which can easily happen at this time of year.

Cucumbers are very prone to stem rot. Not sure how good the drainage is in your container, but just from the photo it looks like it could retain more wet than a regular pot, so something to watch out for. Cucumber seedlings have a reputation for "Waking up each morning thinking of a new way to die"

[MrsCordial]

Hi Kristen - thank you I've just been reading in another thread about stem rot. I think I should have left it later to sow them.

Congratulations on your gong!

[Kristen]

I've just been reading in another thread about stem rot. I think I should have left it later to sow them.

Depends how early you want them to perform But if you want an early harvest they you need to tool up for raising the plants early. Both my Cucumber and Tomato plants will be a good 2' - 3' tall by the time they get planted into the, unheated, greenhouse - but I have facilities to look after them during that time - trying to do that on a windowsill would be a lot more tricky and need co-operation from Spouses, Children and Cats!!

[rustylady]

That cucumber can stay in it's present pot for a while yet. Don't pot on until the roots have filled it's current pot.

Still too cold I think to plant out, even under cloches.

[mothhawk]

I've discovered that seedlings are like puppies - fine when they're small, but a more scary proposition when they grow! I now have quite sizable cucumber and pumpkin seedlings - this is one of the cucs (Wautoma), just to give you an idea:

Sorry MrsC, but this made me laugh, 'cos I read - grow! - as - growl -
You'll have to teach those seedlings to "sit and stay"!

[Two_Sheds]

We're having ... 13-14 degs,

Everyone forgets about the night temps

Tender plants don't like the cold, and our nights are *about* 6c right now, and not much more for a further month.

[MrsCordial]

MothHawk! My seedlings haven't started growling at me yet, but DH might if more of the house is taken up with seedlings! Next year I'll start in April, not March. ..