Rootrainers and planting on...

[Coopers]

Hi all,

I am new here and was hoping for some advice.

This is my first year on the allotment and i have started the following off in deep rootrainers.

Onion
Beetroot
Courgettes
Squash

I really would like to go straight to ground with these but i heard i should do this later in May when chance on frost is reduced.

Only issue is my squash and courgettes are getting big, around 7 inch.

Is this too big for rootrainers or am i safe to wait 2-3 weeks before hardening off and putting in ground.

Many thanks for any help,

Chris

[Scarlet]

I'd pot the courgettes and squash on into bigger pots. They will do a lot if growing in 3 weeks.

The onions and beetroot I would harden off and plant out.

[Coopers]

I'd pot the courgettes and squash on into bigger pots. They will do a lot if growing in 3 weeks.

The onions and beetroot I would harden off and plant out.

Thanks for the reply.

The only pots i have are 9 cm wide and 7 cm deep. Would these suffice? Being cheap, i didnt want to buy a whole load of new pots.

How big should the beet and onions get to start thinking of growing out? Should i pot on first?

[Bigmallly]

Use old tin cans, Put Nudle pots etc.

[Kristen]

How big should the beet and onions get to start thinking of growing out? Should i pot on first?

If they have "filled" the root trainers then they are ready to plant out. They won't mind the cold, but you should aclimatise them to outdoor temperatures ["Harden off"] before planting out. Put them out during the day, in at night, for a few days then if there is a mild night forecast (say 10C min) then leave them out for the night in a sheltered spot, otherwise bring in still, and after a week they will be ready to plant out.

Still too early to plant out Squash / Courgette. best to wait until night temperature is consistently 10C min - or plant with a 2L Pop bottle (with bottom cut out) over the top as a cloche. leave the stopper open.