sowed squash too early

[STHLMgreen]

I sowed my squash a bit too early and we had fantastic weather so they grew like crazy. So they need to be repotted again as they can't go out yet and I have no room left anywhere near the windows with good light. Any ideas? Tips to survive a few more weeks?

I pick off any flowers that come, right?

[STHLMgreen]

[manicscousers]

I've re-potted some of mine into morrisons/asdas/florists black buckits and they are now on the dining table, near to the window, been there for 4 days and seem to like it  ;D

[Deb P]

I try to learn my lesson every year with squash, and try and sow later to avoid exactly what you describe! They don't like being checked I growth much, so all you can really do is keep potting them on...... :-\

[pigeonseed]

It's difficult with no room - I have same issues.

Is there any way you can make a makeshift greenhouse outside the back door/any other place, with some clear plastic of some kind?

Or, maybe take pots outside to warm spot every day, bring indoors every night. Which would be extremely inconvenient...

I've put 3 tomato plants outside the back door in sheltered spot and they look fine, I leave them out at night. As experimemt I planted two in ground against a wall - they look wind-whipped and miserable!

[Robert_Brenchley]

A mini-greenhouse would be what you need. One could be improvised fairly easily if you can build the framework.

[STHLMgreen]

I have a three shelf plastic covered one. I just found a thermometer (see other post) and it is just over 8 degrees in there now, so too cold.  :(

[Robert_Brenchley]

I hadn't realised you were in Stockholm! I don't know your climate, but I can well imagine there might be a problem.

[STHLMgreen]

Yes, usually it snows the first week of April so next to the window is colder and they don't come up or grow this fast with the grey days mixed in. It's been all sun and warm. It's my fourth year here and the previous three the weather was different.

[Bjerreby]

I sowed my squash a bit too early and we had fantastic weather so they grew like crazy. So they need to be repotted again as they can't go out yet and I have no room left anywhere near the windows with good light. Any ideas? Tips to survive a few more weeks?

I pick off any flowers that come, right?

Hej fra Danmark!

I am fascinated by board users here, they know all kinds of tricks to sow things starting on 1st January. It tempted me to sow aquadulce claudia broad beans in October.............now they are all dead.

I find that the Danish spring lags that in North Yorkshire  by about two or three weeks. I should have thought your location lags Denmark by another two weeks, or more if there is sea ice.

I sow squash together with my runner beans. That means outside about 1st June, or under glass around the second week of May. Not before!

My advice..............wait 3 weeks and re-sow

[PurpleHeather]

As an experiment, I have three out already. Planted in position but I have covered them with some large clear plastic bags, they were recycled from packaging.

With four short canes I have made a tent over each of them. They have been out now for two weeks and although they have not grown much they seem perfectly fine, on the allotment.

I have planted some more, just in case these do not survive.

Since the big problem seems to be ground frost, which could happen at night then if you have got 10 minutes every morning to put them out and take them back in at night, they will get the sunlight and the warmth of the day, then the protection of indoors at night.

[Digeroo]

Ikea sell nice stacking translucent plastic boxes, so you can get several levels of plants on one windlow sill.  Can't see out but it is only for a few weeks. ;D ;D 

[STHLMgreen]

Thanks for all the help! And hi Bjerreby, good to know I'm not the only one from this part of the world.

I will probably have to sow again. I just hate throwing away (composting of course) plants. I'll probably try and keep a few alive and toss the rest. And sow some directly and see how they compare. Why not learn something from this mistake.

[caroline7758]

Think my daughter's bedroom will have to be taken over if I'm to keep allthe squash I've sown! Goodjob she's away at uni until June!

[saddad]

Ours are just germinating... we will have plenty for tyhe sale at the start of June Caroline... but any spares would be welcome...
Our postal service doesn't run to Stockholm, sorry!!  :)

[beckydore]

I was just considering whether to chance putting some courgettes out on the plot and asking one of the neighbours to put my cloches over them if frost is predicted. What do you think??
... and I am just about to plant my squash seeds - indoors in Sunny Solihull.
Becky

[Jokerman]

mine are all just poking through the soil in my greenhouse. was hoping for warmer weather...   :-[

[manicscousers]

just planted one, in a tyre on the raised soil, put another tyre on with a fleece cover over, the tyre anchors the fleece, all experimenting  ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

If ypou put squash out now, then it's likely to sulk unless the weather is unusually warm through May. I haven't even planted mine yet. You should get away with it if it's cloched full-time, but it's  going to be better off in pots for a while, as the soil will still be on the chilly side.

[1066]

Hi
I'd agree with Robert, as my pumpkins and squash sulked big style last year when I planted them out too early. I'm going to follow some info I found on here about potting the squash on and on and on, until they are as large as I can handle before planting out. But I guess that doesn't really answer your problem of what to do now! The problems as I see it are light levels and heat, is there anyway you can keep them indoors for longer and if light levels are a problem rig up some foil on carboard and sit it behind the plants (I know some on here do this), it might help?
Mine have just been potted on into 4 / 5 inch pots and still tucked up indoors....

[Robert_Brenchley]

Last year I found my squash did fine as long as it was in pots, under cover. Once it was put, some pumpkins I had in full sun grew and produced a couple of fruit. The rest, planted under my corn, did nothing all year.