When to start transplating marrows/pumpkins....

[deltz]

I've been growing my pumpkins and marrows in pots and its been about a week since germination and the width of the plant is about 7cm. I think the pots are getting overcrowded now and wondering if its the right time to transplant them into the ground and grow bags?

Or would transferring them to decent sized pots each first (bringing them in every night) be more benificial?

All next week is supposed to be 20ish degrees and ranging from 5 -10 degress in the night

Many Thanks

[shirlthegirl43]

I usually sow mine individually in 3 inch pots so don't have that problem. I would go with potting on, then when the roots are showing out of the bottoms of those pots they should be ready for outdoors. You can start to harden them off when they have gotten over the potting on.

[deltz]

Would 2 litre pots be too big, Measurements are 17cm wide x 13cm deep?
Or should I stick to the 1 litre pots 13 x 11?

Also any tips on transplating?

Thanks

[shirlthegirl43]

I would suggest the smaller ones - plants can really get knocked back if you pot them on into too big a pot.

[sewer rat]

I sow all my courgettes and pumpkins individually in 3" pots same as STG does - they stay in these pots until they have 4 true leaves then they get planted out into their final positions - the only trick I use is to shelter them from the wind by planting them in the middle of old tyres - the tyres stop the wind from hammering the young plants and also act as heat soak during the day, keeping the plants warm at night.

[Jeanied]

Now that is a great tip, Sewer Rat - do you leave the tyres on or take them off after a while?

[sewer rat]

Now that is a great tip, Sewer Rat - do you leave the tyres on or take them off after a while?

I leave the tyres in place, so that I can lift the plant stems up onto them to help keep the fruits off the ground and away from slugs - I think there might be a photo in my photo album entitled "my business"

[shirlthegirl43]

Great idea SR - now I know what to do with the lovely tyres I kepf off my old car

[Jeanied]

Now that IS clever SR - my only caveat is that I bet the slugs and snails find the tyre a great sheltering place.

[sewer rat]

Now that IS clever SR - my only caveat is that I bet the slugs and snails find the tyre a great sheltering place.

All you have to di lift the tyre and remove them - they rarely get to the inside of the tyre - and if they do they drown as it usually has some rainwater sloshing around in it - here's a thought I've just had that I may try myself this year - pour some salt into the raiwater that collects in the inside of the tyre - that's kill the beggars. Think I'll try it as I'm only haveing 30 courgettes / pumpkins this year as opposed to 200.

[sewer rat]

Another advantage - you only have to weed the small area inside the tyre !

[planesailing]

I have got 4 and will hopefully get more, tyres to place sqaush/courgettes in. I have planted 4 out already, within the tyre with black plastic and a cloche and they are doing great guns. The good thing is you can ensure that you give a thick layer of compost/manure for them to feast on, but they can get their roots deeper if need be so they do not get pot bound like they would just growing in pots. Hurrah!

[Llamas]

Glad to see other grapes are putting out their squash. Mine went out a week ago. I like this tyre idea too.

[reetnproper]

My pumpkins went out at the weekend (well they're actually the girlies pumpkins - 3 each ) and are doing well. My winter squash plants are rather big but still in the greenhouse at the moment but I'm rapidly running out of room, so they may have to move outside over the weekend (unless of course the rain that's forecast actually arrives this time ).

Reet
x

[King Carrot]

All you have to di lift the tyre and remove them - they rarely get to the inside of the tyre - and if they do they drown as it usually has some rainwater sloshing around in it - here's a thought I've just had that I may try myself this year - pour some salt into the raiwater that collects in the inside of the tyre - that's kill the beggars. Think I'll try it as I'm only haveing 30 courgettes / pumpkins this year as opposed to 200.

Would the inside not fill up completely during heavy showers and leech salt solution on to the courgettes? When I was a kid I grew some marigolds that kept being eaten by slugs, so I put a ring of salt around them - problem solved as no more marigolds!