Overgrown indoor veg seedlings

[Indveg]

Hi,
I have just started growing vegetables. So have started growing almost all the seeds I had from end of February.
The butternut squash and other seedlings have grown a foot long. It's too cold outside to plant.
What do I do?
I don't have a greenhouse. Just making raised beds in the garden now.

Thanks

[Snoop Puss]

That's the problem with the instructions on sowing: the start dates are for ideal conditions in the warmest parts of the country. This year is especially bad because it's unusually wet and cold (even here). To be honest, there isn't much you can do apart from feed or pot up into larger pots. Even a greenhouse wouldn't necessarily be of much help unless you could heat it overnight.

You don't give your location. When is your last frost? Things like squash and tomatoes won't enjoy being outside till temperatures reach 10 ºC at night.

Look on the bright side, though: if you can keep them going, you'll have a fantastic head start on someone like me, who hasn't even started sowing yet. For some, you might have to start again, but that wouldn't be the end of the world.

And hello and welcome to the Vine. Lots of friendly folk here happy to help with any question.

[the big lebowski]

hi, it always happens this time of year ,all those winter nights of looking a seed packets and counting down the days to spring ,you`ll just have to find as much windowsill space as you can and remember not to do the same next year ,good luck ,cheers

[Jungle Jane]

There’s some advice here about the lowest temperatures squash can cope with,the same would go for cucumber,peppers & tomatoes anything tender. When it’s warm enough they can go outside for a few hours in a sheltered spot during the day,then back indoors for the evening to harden them up before planting out.

“Growth virtually stops at temperatures below 10°C and the plants may be severely damaged and maturity could be delayed by temperatures below 5°C for several days.
Plants are usually killed by one hour or more of frost (temperature below 0°C). Therefore, plant cucurbits in the field when soil temperatures are high enough for good germination and all chances of frost have passed. For early summer squash production, plastic mulch and/or row covers will raise soil temperatures and provide some frost protection.
Low temperatures also have an adverse effect on flowering and fruit set. Cucurbits are monoecious plants—that is, each plant produces both male and female flowers. Normally, several male flowers form before female flowers develop. During the periods of cool temperatures (below 22°C) most pumpkin and squash cultivars respond by producing primarily male flowers.”
http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/Brochures/PG_Squash.pdf

[Baldy]

Hi Indveg

By the sounds of it your seedlings are way to 'leggy' searching for sunlight that isn't there... unless of course they are looking bushy and healthy rather than long and straggly - the good news is that you have plenty of time to resow - and hopefully by the time your next batch of seedling germinate the outside temps and conditions will have improved so you can move them out into the sunshine.

Welcome along by the way...

[nickdub]

Its too cold for this now, but one thing I do when planting things like courgettes or pumpkins out for the first time is to make a mound (if this contains compost and/or manure so much the better ) then hollow out the top for a depth of 12 inches or so ie looking like a min volcano. I add a bit off fine soil to this inner hollow then put a piece of plastic/poly-carbonate sheeting or glass over it and leave for a week. I put the cover back on again once the plant is in there, raising it on bricks or whatever if necessary because of height.

At this time of year even if we get warmer days, often the night is too cold for tender plants to thrive outside. It also helps keep the area dry and if you add some ashes or similar to the surface that will be a barrier against slugs

[Indveg]

Thank you everyone. Guess I need to plant them all over again. Is this a good time to start or should I wait longer for courgette and squashes?

My eggplant, chillies, okra, tomatoes are not that big. I will try to grow them inside for another month. But there are fungus gnats flying and kids hate them.

[Indveg]

I live in Kent btw. Next week looks hot. Highs are 20°c

[ecudc]

Hello

Yellow sticky paper which you can get from most garden/diy stores is a good way to get rid of the fungus knats. If you have loads you might have to replace the paper quite quickly but after that it will slow down.

I'd normally start sowing my corgettes and squash about 4-6 weeks before last frost which if I take a punt is about now. You might have a bit more luck doing that than trying to keep your plant going indoors for another 6 weeks.

If you wanted to try a bit of an experiment you could pot you big plant on and trail its leaves along a windowsill. At the end of April pop it outside under fleece during the day and bring back in at night for a week in an unheated room then plant out under fleece.

[nickdub]

You might be able to get enough respite from the kids if you can put your veg plants on trays, so they can be moved out in the day and back in at night - then if you are lucky temps will warm up sufficiently next week to hope to plant them outside .

In the meantime if you have enough seed there's no harm in starting a few more in case you do lose some - always good to have spares in case something goes amiss, or as presents for other gardeners.

My courgettes are just past the cotyledon stage and are sitting looking fairly unhappy in my rather cold poly-tunnel. I'm pretty sure they'll start growing again when the weather warms up, but I am keeping a close eye on the forecast for frosty nights.

[Indveg]

That's great advice. Will get some yellow sticky paper.
Will start tomorrow to plant more squash plants, Nick.
Last time, kept the seeds in a wet tissue and put in a Ziploc bag and kept it on the fridge. All the seeds sprouted. Is this the fastest way?

[nickdub]

sounds about right - if it worked in a few days last time, then it should be OK again.