Transplanting courgette seedlings

[Trix]

I've sowed some courgette and squash seeds in pots that I now realise are ridiculously small. I know that they don't like being moved (internet searching has told me not to move them at all) but I'm afraid that they will need at least one move before going outside.

Three have sprouted. Would it be best to move them now (seed leaves only) or wait for a bit more growth first?

The rest have not showed their faces yet but I think it might be late to go poking around for the seeds - it's been a few days so I expect they're on the way!

I can resow if I have to but I hate waste so would like to at least try moving them first. Any tips would be great.

[bario1]

I've never had any issues re-potting courgettes. In fact, I find they are almost indestructible. How ridiculously small are these pots? I start mine off in 9cm ones.

[Trix]

Smaller than that! I'm not sure what size they are but there is root coming out of the bottom on two of the just-sprouted seedlings...

[Penellype]

I've never had an issue with repotting courgettes. I routinely sow 2 to a pot and split them up and keep both. I'd wait until you have one true leaf forming before repotting though.

[Trix]

Thank you both, that's reassuring. I will wait for the first leaves and pot on.

[Kristen]

I to have never had a problem pricking-out Courgettes. A few years ago in a dippy-daze I sowed the seed in a 1/4 size seed tray rather than pots, stuck them on the propagator and forgot about them ... this is what I got a couple of days later:



I "dug" them out (literally!) and separated the roots as best I could, into individual pots, and they were fine.

They grow so fast it is probably best to start them off in something about 9cm diameter, and be prepared to pot-on to 1L fairly soon ...