Squash flopped

[Pookledo]

I had two summer squash which were doing great on the windowsill, but a couple of weeks after being planted outside have flopped.  The leaves which were thick and juicy went all thin and limp and now look beyond salvation.

They were watered every day. Do you think I just put them out too early?

I don't want to make the same mistake again.

[Pookledo]

[kt.]

Definitely too early.  I will be sowing mine over this next 7-10 days.  Squash are usually not sown until late April  for planting out in May. 

[Squash64]

Much too early to even sow the seeds here in Birmingham!

[thifasmom]

yep to early, i always sow too early (next year i promise not to sow till the last week of May ::)). my early sowings though were moved from the conservatory to my unheated greenhouse almost three weeks ago and to prevent them becoming pot bound i had to go through the faffing involved in potting them into 2L pots, they'll most likely be planted out mid May. i promise to sow later next year :-\

[betula]

I have been really good about sowing too early this year.

My fingers are itching and I keep reading about people sowing this and that :o

Can I hold out ??? ;D

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

i have squash/courgettes on my windowsill doing well - I am going to pot them into individual pots tonight and leave in a north facing lean-to (clear roof) for another 10days or more before planting out.  I am in tropical North London and hope it isnt too early.  What does everyoen think?  Am I too early or will they be ok?  They do not appear 'leggy' at all.

Psi

[daileg]

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Slide%20Shows/Slide%20Shows.htm

try this it explains a lot in connection with size of plants and so on but i tend to leave mine untill they are at least 6 inch tall before planting out and i have hot bed to put them into i grow all squash on plastic membrane over the top of manure

[Pookledo]

Thanks everyone! :) Serves me right for just following the instructions on the packet. Doh :(

I've got some pumpkin seeds and luffa seeds left so I'll plant a few more and see what happens :)

[thifasmom]

I've got some pumpkin seeds and luffa seeds left so I'll plant a few more and see what happens :)

hey i have a luffa too but started it way back in Feb i think the first week as I'm sure it would need a long season. the seed was saved seed from luffas we collect when we were back in Trinidad about three years ago.

its in the conservatory at the moment in its large pot and will move into the greenhouse end of May early June when there is space and hopefully no more cold nights.

the first pic was when it was first potted up 03/04/09. the second was taken today.





edited: just found this link for growing in the uk maybe it will help give us a postive edge re at least one loffa ;)

[Pookledo]

I've got two leaves on one of them. The leaves are about the size of a penny at the moment. :)

[thifasmom]

duh :-[ just realised i didn't post the link, here it is:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Learning/Publications/pubs/garden0506/luffa.htm

[saddad]

Serves me right for just following the instructions on the packet.

Now they can sell you some more....  :-X