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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Kendy on April 07, 2009, 17:10:23

Title: What to do with plants in propagator while on holiday ?
Post by: Kendy on April 07, 2009, 17:10:23
Planted some courgette, cucumber and pumpkin seeds in an Aldi windowsill propagator.   They have done really well are around 6" high now.

After I planted them I realised we were going away on Easter Saturday for the week so what do you think I should do with them now ?  My options appear to be:

1) give them to a friend to put in their greenhouse leaving in the propagator tray as they are whilst we are away so at least they will get watered

2) I've got one of those small cheapo plastic greenhouses so I could setup some sort of auto watering for the week (either as they are or transferred to bigger pots)

3) let me them die and start again when I get back

Any advice gratefully received. :-\
Title: Re: What to do with plants in propagator while on holiday ?
Post by: daileg on April 07, 2009, 17:13:52
id give to a freind if he can be trusted i trusted my mother last year when i went on hols for a fortnight to water the toms in the greenhouse came back to find after i left instruction as to when and how much she watered to what id said problem was we had a mini heatwave for the fortnight i was aweay and she never compensated
but as you mentioned your freind has a greenhouse  meaning id expect they now what to do
Title: Re: What to do with plants in propagator while on holiday ?
Post by: caroline7758 on April 07, 2009, 17:57:16
If it's the kind of windowsill propagator I'm thinking of, with pretty small cells, I would pot them up into bigger pots asap. Apart from anything else, if they have more soil they won't dry out so quickly.

On the other hand, you are quite early with all of these, so it might be less trouble to start again when you come back!
Title: Re: What to do with plants in propagator while on holiday ?
Post by: Kendy on April 07, 2009, 23:43:19
I was thinking I was bit early too when I read in the books that you plant them out at end of May ! :P
Title: Re: What to do with plants in propagator while on holiday ?
Post by: PurpleHeather on April 08, 2009, 06:19:18
They can be put into larger pots and a trusted friend left to water them. You do not need that many of each.

If you pot them up and stand the pots in a tray with a little water for a week and put them in a cool shady place indoors, they will probably be fine. The direct sun dries out the compost much more than the plants will use.

It is true that not all is lost if you have to start again but that would be a shame. I would try at least one of each. with a friend and one of each in the shady place method. It will be a lesson learned for the future to see how things work out. If nothing else.
Title: Re: What to do with plants in propagator while on holiday ?
Post by: rosebud on April 08, 2009, 06:33:05
 I would repot them, & leave them in the bathroom if you have a bath i would put a VERY small amount of water in & leave them in there no direct sunlight.
I have done this before with young plants, but now we have a shower can`t do it anymore cannot put them in the greenhouse because who knows we may get some sun. LOL.
Title: Re: What to do with plants in propagator while on holiday ?
Post by: Kendy on April 08, 2009, 17:21:55

Thanks for all the tips - will repot and stand in a tray of water in the bath as you suggest.
Title: Re: What to do with plants in propagator while on holiday ?
Post by: telboy on April 08, 2009, 21:35:12
Kendy,
Get your priorities right!

1)                 Stay at home!!!

2)                 Eff off & do it all again!!

What's the problem? 
;D ;D ;D         
Title: Re: What to do with plants in propagator while on holiday ?
Post by: Kendy on April 09, 2009, 11:44:46
Quote from: telboy on April 08, 2009, 21:35:12
Kendy,
Get your priorities right!

1)                 Stay at home!!!

2)                 Eff off & do it all again!!

What's the problem? 
;D ;D ;D         

;D

This seems to be the problem when you have a lottie ! Any time away affects the plot !