Seed Sowing, Hand Holding

[WiZeR]

Hi Guys

More on seed sowing im afraid. This is so new to me that I dont want to put a foot wrong!

I took a peek in the boiler cupbaord today and to my utter amazement my courgettes have shot up!



I guess they are 3 inches tall and to my eye look healthy, except this one shoot that looks like it still has the seed attatched to it??



What's going on here?

The main question is, what next? The soil seems dry, so I guess it needs watering. Should I now move it to a window sill? Or put it back in the boiler cupboard.

the only other sign of life is from the broad beans which have tiny hair like shoots less than half an inch.

[sewer rat]

WiZeR
This is the seed case that is still attached to your courgette seedling - don't worry, it will fall off soon enough - don't be tempted to pull it off as you may damage the seedling.
Rat

[Alice]

Wizer, take your courgettes out of the boiler cupboard. The one with the seed attached will lose it itself. Put them on a windowsill out of direct sun. If they are dry water them from the bottom. In a day or two replant the courgettes in bigger containers and plant them right up to the seed leaves (the ones at the very bottom). grow them on in good light. The problem you have expeienced comes from putting them in the boiler cupboard. I prefer to use a north facing windowsill. Might take a few days longer but no rush and get shorter,sturdier plants. Weather much too cold just now but prefer to get plants outside as soon as possible and take in, or put in greenhouse covered with fleece at night. Try your next lot of seeds in the freezer bag as suggested. Good luck.

[Lesley Jay]

Wizer they look rather spindley. I haven't tried growing seeds in the airing cupboard but they look as if they need some light. Courgettes are big plants and to begin with they are big seedlings so I always sow one courgette seed on it's edge per 3 inch pot. This way you don't need to transplant them very early on. I start my seeds off in a propagator.

[andrewo]

These are plants deprived of light, as soon as they germinate, whip them out of the airing cupboard onto a windowsill, uncovered. Courgettes need to be stocky plants as they grow during the season and the plant ends up with a 'stalk', this means you're going to have one long stalk!!

[WiZeR]

thanks very much guys, so move this pot onto a window sill out of direct light?

[Lesley Jay]

Wizer if you have any courgette seeds left I would sow them again and as soon as you see any sign of the seedlings starting to burst through the top of the compost take them out of the airing cupboard and put them on a nice warm windowsill. They still need light to grow but if you did this you should get good big seedlings. It is surprising just how fast they grow.

[WiZeR]

oh so you think these have grown too quick and discard them?

[Lesley Jay]

Wizer I think they have grown too spindley (leggy) and if you have more seeds re sow them but I never throw seedlings away. Courgettes, marrows, squashes and cucumbers all produce really big, chunky seedlings that is why I always sow them one seed per 3 inch pot. Give it another try and see how they grow.

[WiZeR]

thank you very much, will post results