Sowing courgettes indoors

[Undercaker]

Hello
I've just planted some courgette seeds indoors in small pots of compost. Just wondering how often I should water them before the shoots start to appear? There's nothing on the seed packet regarding watering them?
Also, I've used cling film as a propagtor, keeping it loose-ish so condensation doesn't weigh it down. Would that still work?
Thanks in advance
D

[Bigmallly]

If the compost was moist to start with, I would think condensation should be enough to keep it that way but remove it at the first sign of a shoot........consider using a half pop bottle as a cloche.

[bario1]

The shoots should appear within a few days, I wouldn't water them again personally, they might rot.

[Undercaker]

Cheers guys

[Snadger]

Mine germinated in a few days without any cover, in the unheated summerhouse.

[Undercaker]

Courgette Update!
The first shoots have started to appear. What to do now?
Am I right in thinking that I should now remove the cover and continue to leave them alone in a warm place for another 2-4 weeks before transplanting to my vegetable plot?
Do the shoots need to be watered? If so, how often and how much?
Do they need hardening off?
Look at me, pretending I know what "hardening off" means.
Any help greatly appreciated. Layman's terms if possible.
Cheers
D

[Bigmallly]

If the shoots are through, like you say remove the lid & keep in a warm light place. Light will be important for them to grow now. Get a pot of compost the same size as the plants, water the compost & feel the weight, now lift the pots with the plants & feel the weight, over time you will just be able to lift pots & know if they need watering or not. They will become light as they dry out. I wouldn't harden them off just yet, Pop some photo's up.

[Bren In Pots]

The cover needs removing and stand your plants on a sunny window sill preferably with a piece of foil/white card behind to help prevent them from going to leggy.
Have a read here at the vines own guide to growing courgettes

Growing Courgettes | How To Grow | Grow Your Own hope this helps.

[Jimmy]

Train your finger to recognize dry and wet compost.
Jimmy

[Newbiegrower1970]

I planted about a dozen courgettes, they have been in a warm room but only about half have germinated in about 10 days. What's wrong?

[Zelenina]

Maybe some of the seeds are duds, or maybe the room isn't quite as warm as they like so they'll take a bit longer, or maybe the compost is too dry or too wet.

Anyway, do you really need 12 courgette plants? How many people are you expecting to feed with them?

[Newbiegrower1970]

Just me :-) love me some courgettes. It was 12 types of courgettes and squashes

[ecudc]

Some varieties can take a little longer than others. Can you give the ones that have not come up a bit more heat, perhaps if you don't have a propagater then close to (but not on) a radiator?

[Zelenina]

Well, if it includes winter squashes that makes more sense because they can be stored. They may not all be the same species so they might have different germination times or optimum germination temperatures. Give them a bit more warmth and a bit more time as ecudc says. What varieties are they?

[Newbiegrower1970]

They are in the utility room with the boiler, the only place warmer would be in the oven ��