Courgettes

[NattyEm]

Hooray looked at my kitchen windowsill this morning and 6 out of 14 courgette plants have germinated ;D  How long do they need to stay in the house for, until they can move outside to the growhouse?  At some point once they're up properly I'll start leaving the window open, but then what?

[NattyEm]

[tim]

So long as they're not getting leggy or pale, I would let them be, in some warmth & good light - use reflectors? - until, at least, they have their first true leaves. Then, if they are for outside, start hardening off. We won't put ours out till at least mid-May but, if you can give them protection, you could try earlier.

The 2 that we had in the greenhouse last year did very well & gave us a head start.

[NattyEm]

Tim thats the wrong answer I need the windowsill for the next lot ;) I thought that would be the case though.   Thanks!

[tim]

I'll try to do better!

[Mothy]

Lol you two  ;D, I must admit I was about to start a separate thread asking if it is too soon to sow a few courgettes and my sweetcorn in the greenhouse (unheated) or should I wait a week or two?

All advice gratefully received.  :)

PS I'm in S. Leicestershire

[Doris_Pinks]

I am in the South East and won't be starting my courgettes indoors until next month,  my sweetcorn in my unheated greenhouse end of April...though it is tempting to start now............... ;D  ;D DP  (might try one courgette in the greenhouse to see how it does! ;) )

[tim]

I sow courgettes mid-April on heat. Then grow on with 50-60F bottomm heat & put out late May. I cloche them if things seem a bit risky.

[derbex]

I've got a couple going for the greenhouse now, of an extra early variety, but wouldn't sow any for outside yet. BTW 14 courgettes  :o -have you got the 5000 coming around for dinner?

Jeremy

[tim]

Yes! 6 do us the season!

Genovese had 60 per plant!!

[NattyEm]

I wasn't sure how many would germinate, also knowing I was starting them early I didn't know how many would survive hardening off, so I was hedging my bets with the idea to give courgette plants away if I had too many.  Expecting to put about 4 outside.  The packet did say March though, and I am in the sunny south west :)