squashes/courgettes planting soon?

[chilli_grower]

bretty, have you seen these squash:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sq...DKTY8gerwYDQBQ

[bretty666]

Yeh..im growing one like that..not the exact one?? Says patisson on the pack??

[chilli_grower]

just googled it, looks very similar!!!

[shellyanne1987]

I learnt the hard way started some off a while back thought if hardened them off enough but they both died back I left them in a hope they may recover and 1 has some growth back! The other completely dead


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[bretty666]

Hi shelyanne. i have a somewhat an unorthodox random method ..seeds start under cover..when the two leaves come through they get transferred to my slugproof wheelbarrow which comes out of a shed in the day and goes in the shed with the door open at night...

[Dorothy rouse]

Time of the year would not make a difference, if they were in a warm spot - in your propagator. They should have been up in a couple of days.

Might they have been too wet? (or old seed? but even then I would expect seed to be viable for a couple of years ... or three even).

The seed was new, 2015, they were on window sill, covered,for at least 3 weeks, maybe too wet. When I emptied them out yesterday, the seed was there, just nothing happening. I have actually complained to Mr F, and Unwins, think maybe poor quality seed?

Still, there is time to sow more.

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

If it was a sunny window sill - they could have gotten too warm? My south facing window gets wayyyyy to hot (especially the last few days). I tend to start mine in pots inside plastic foodbags. These are deposited in a place where the temperature is fairly consistent (for me on the sideboard in the dining room - near a radiator).

[flopsy59]

i put some patty pan squashes in electric propagator and within 10 days they had started to grow so they are now sitting on the spare bedroom windowsill

[bretty666]

My mixed pack..60seeds 39p lidl

[creechitup]

Apart from death, what are the symptoms of courgettes getting too cold?

I'm a newbie and planted mine out about two weeks ago in 25 litre pots (south facing terrace in london). They had about 4 big leaves at the time (not seed leaves) and i hardened them off for 10 days first. They look fine to me now, and even have flowers...

[Dorothy rouse]

If it was a sunny window sill - they could have gotten too warm? My south facing window gets wayyyyy to hot (especially the last few days). I tend to start mine in pots inside plastic foodbags. These are deposited in a place where the temperature is fairly consistent (for me on the sideboard in the dining room - near a radiator).

Maybe, radiator not on tho, when I emptied them out, the seed was still there, just not doing anything.

[Kristen]

Apart from death, what are the symptoms of courgettes getting too cold?

not growing and leaves turning into something that feels "papery". Likely to go brown around the edges of the leaf too. If it gets frost it will just collapse and die, so that will be obvious! but cold is likely to show itself as a change in the leaves.

[creechitup]

not growing and leaves turning into something that feels "papery". Likely to go brown around the edges of the leaf too. If it gets frost it will just collapse and die, so that will be obvious! but cold is likely to show itself as a change in the leaves.

Ah, that did happen to one leaf! Seems to be ok though. Thanks for the info!

[MrsHippo]

I have about 8 courgette plants growing in my conservatory (don't have a greenhouse) and all pretty big. Buds have recently started developing..

I sowed the seeds about a month ago and I intend on keeping them indoors until at least mid May. I got sick of having too many so planted three out but then a frost hit and they died within a couple of days. Whoops. I had too many anyway.

The poor things have recently been attacked by insects though and some of the leaves have turned from it but other than that, they're doing pretty well. I also have pumpkin, butternut squash and melon alongside them.

[MrsCordial]

I'm am absolutely desperate to get my courgettes and cucumbers outside, but I know it's too early. The forecast is for overnight temps of 3-4 degs here next week. I sowed them far too early and have really paid the price.

I have a q about cloches: I got a cut-price job in ALDI (about 3m long, a foot high or so) and have had it warming some soil for parsnips for a fortnight. I'm intending to sow parsnip seeds there next week, then I'll stick the cloche back on for a week or so. After that (so say a fortnight's time), if I planted out my courgettes and put the cloche on top would it make muc difference? Could it save them from a chilly grave if the temperature dipped at night once or twice?