courgettes

[Jo.T]

I've just asked this on new shoots but thought here might be better - sorry to repeat!

I've sown courgette seeds for first time (brought in small plants before). The packet says need high temps to germinate - will they be ok on a window sill in full sun? Bit worried might cool off for them at night - any tips?

Thanks

[rustylady]

Should be Ok on windowsill, but do you have an airing cupboard? They need warmth to germinate but not light until they are above the surface of the compost, I know in these days of multipoint water heaters not many of us have airing cupboards, but when I had one I used to germinate most of my seeds there.

[Flummery]

Mine came in ok on the kitchen windowsill. They're lovely juicy looking seed leaves with the first true leaves just budding in the centre. They have that fresh 'squash' smell too. Lovely things.

[Alice]

I think they'll germinate fine on the windowsill Jo T. I've never had a problem getting them to come - up in a few days.

[Heidi]

We set 2 types of courgette and 3 types of winter squash last Monday afternoon and already most of them are now strong baby plants. They're in an unheated proporgator on a very sunny window sill.

So yours should be fine.

[Paulottie]

tip:Sow the seeds on edge, it stops them rotting.

Don't want to hijack thread but I'm growing F1 tosca. Last year we had rambling plants which I forgot were Fothergill's f1Tosca as I mislaid the packet which I've now rediscovered and it indeed states "vigorous open habit". I brought some more seeds from Dobies specifically because the catalogue says "bush type- compact growing" I am now confused, can the same type have different habits?

[Paulottie]

Hi LJ, I was very pleased with the fruits for flavour and also pow.mild resistannce of plants(R they a fruit?...anyhow). I grew defender one year and I found it so much more convinient to have a few smaller compact plants and we still had LOADS. I will be growing butternuts later in the season & the need space for that. Dobies didn't seem to have defender any more so I believed what it said in catalogue (mmm silly me!). maybe I better make a frame to grow them up. What can I use?

[Paulottie]

Thanks Lesley. The reason I have been using Dobies is our Garden club 50% discount. Following link now- as it so much better to buy by weight for many things.

[Alison]

I grew Tosca last year, very neat but still pretty productive. A couple of plants would be plenty. Re the germination thing, I've never had any problems getting them started on a window ledge or greenhouse. They come up pretty quickly so I'd be a bit dodgy about putting them in a propogator cos if you didn't catch them as soon as they started they'd be pushing the cover off!

[Paulottie]

Thanks, Ladies. I think I can assume that they should be compact then. Great! and whatever Fothergills sold were not Tosca.

LJ thanks again for the site address. I found some tomertillo seeds- been meaning to try those for a couple of years now.

[Alison]

Planted some tomatillo seeds a couple of weeks ago - they all came up within a couple of days and are doing great guns. Never grown them before so will have to see if they crop much for me.

[Jo.T]

Thanks for the reassurrance about the window sill - fingers crossed they'll be up soon

[xspye]

I planted my courgettes & squashes a 10 days a go then went away thinking they would've just emerged by the time I got back. However it must have been a bit too warm for them and they have gone mad! I now have lots of plants with 4-6inch stems and a couple of seed leaves perched on top .

I know that peppers and tomatos can be re potted up to the seed leaves but was wondering if i can do the same to the courgettes and squahes? Any advice welcome, thanks

[Flummery]

I think they might rot off. I've never taken the chance but maybe someone has.

[Alison]

Yeah, I've done it before and it seemed to work OK - you've nothing to lose anyway!