Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: cripery on April 28, 2009, 20:22:45

Title: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: cripery on April 28, 2009, 20:22:45
Newbie Questions Again!

My Courgette seedlings are monsters! I planted them 7 days ago and they are already 3 - 4  inches tall and have two leaves opening? I think they grew too tall but I'm not sure why, I was thinking of re potting them into seperate pots as they are just in those little peat pots in an incubator (not heated).

Any thoughts / comments to help me on my way?

Thanks ;D

(http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/gallery/9403_28_04_09_8_42_53.JPG)
Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: Alexihen on April 28, 2009, 20:29:51
You could try planting them in slightly larger pots, but deeper, so that there is a chance of roots forming on the stem already formed.  I know you can do this with tomatoes,  but not sure about courgettes.

Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: caroline7758 on April 28, 2009, 20:38:49
That's my plan for some squash that I didn't get round to potting up sooner.
Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: telboy on April 28, 2009, 21:42:57
cripery,
Your courgettes need more light, they're getting 'leggy'.
Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: Kendy on April 29, 2009, 09:22:48
I planted mine too early - and now they have wilted.
Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: shirlton on April 29, 2009, 09:34:38
We always plant ours straight into 4" pots cos they are such big seedlings. Some of them make monster plants too. We grew the round ones last year but never again. They take over everything else
Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: cripery on April 29, 2009, 14:11:53
Brilliant thanks so much everyone, I will give them some more light and re pot them tomorrow into some bigger pots and wait and see.

:D
Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: pigeonseed on April 29, 2009, 20:42:39
I have always read that they don't 'like' being re-potted, because their roots don't respond well to disturbance.

If so, you could move them as they are to a lighter place, keeping them in the same pots.

Once you plant them out, try not to disturb the roots too much - that's what I've heard anyway

Good luck with them
Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: cripery on April 29, 2009, 20:52:47

Well I got home from work at 7.45pm and they have grown another 1/2 inch and were all touching the roof of the propagator so I didn't have much choice and I've had to re pot them even thought I just wanted a sit down! Hopefully they will make it, fingers crossed. ;D
Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: lushy86 on April 30, 2009, 13:04:34
My courgettes are leggy but they are on a south facing windowsill so I can't more them to anywhere lighter, could there be another reason for this?

Lushy x
Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: saddad on April 30, 2009, 13:22:52
Big seed, big seedling, big plant?....  :-\
Title: Re: Monster Courgette Seedlings
Post by: Digeroo on April 30, 2009, 15:00:20
They appear to be in peat pots so I would pot them into something bigger and gentely earth up the stems to stop them falling over.  Courgettes often produce more roots up the stems.

When the plants are over a metre or so across will you notice the extra inch of stem?