I'd be interested to know what success people have had - or otherwise! - when sowing squash seeds directly into the ground.
This year I started several off in pots, windowsill, grew on, transplanted - then they sat and sulked and were generally not thriving. Pulled them up. Bought some seeds early June (as you do!) including a squash called Cream of the Crop - stuck in a couple of seeds, forgot about them. A few weeks later noticed a very healthy looking plant which gave me this lovely crop (but don't think they are cream of the crop because they are supposed to be all cream coloured without the green stripes). Some direct sown patty pans did nothing at all though!
I was quite late planting - but was wondering for next year whether to try more planting direct, under cloches? and avoiding the stress of transplanting.
Many thanks
I had similar results, transplanted plants just sulked but seed planted direct did a lot better.
However, this was in soil that had not been cultivated for a while and only got a quick dig over before planting and none of the plants did great, so I would not put much regard to these results.
I have now got it dug over, waiting for the winter frosts to break the clumps down, I will do a proper comparison next year.
Another plot holder did tell me he always plant direct as they always do better than plants raised early in pots.
Starting things off in pots inside/under glass can get your plants a head start when the weather is still cold outside. However, if you plant them out without hardening them off and/or its still cold, they will not like it at all and sulk - perhaps never recovering.
If you sow direct later and the soil is warm enough, then the plants should be ok - I have mostly given up on this as the slugs just wipe out any seedlings straight away - at least hardened of larger plants have a chance to outgrow the slugs.
I've had the same experience, though I couldn't tell you what the failure rate was with the direct-sown seeds because they were self-sown, but the marrow thrived and didn't struggle to get away as my pot-grown plants often do.
It probably depends where you are. In the North of the UK, you will get best results by starting squash in pots and transplanting after hardening. I provide Lidl mini tunnel protection for the first month after placing in final position, and they romp away even in Glasgow.
I tried planting direct one year, under bottle cloches. As soon as I removed the cloches, the slugs had them.
Quotethen they sat and sulked and were generally not thriving
I fleeced mine up at night for a couple of weeks after I planted them out. I believe they need to be kept above 7 degrees C. I do not think that they like wind.
I had a courgette that came up as a weed, must have come from the compost, and it really took of big time. I also give my a water bottle of a milk bottle filled with water that warms up during the day and keeps the plant warm at night.
Down at the allotment I had several deep rutts formed by tractor wheels, and the squashes and courgettes were put at the bottom of the ruts which were built up further on the windward site. Did very well indeed, as did those amonst the sweet corn.
we had no luck growing them direct, too many flamin' slugs..we grew them to a good size and did ok this year ;D
the sulking could also be due transplant shock.
you would be better orf keeping them in your pots for another week or so, waiting 'til the soil temp rises before planting out. (mid-june) ;)
I would never sow squash seeds directly in the ground as they are too prone to being attacked by slugs, so I always give them a good start in a pot inside in the warmth for a period and re-pot them on until they are quite big and have a good healthy root. I find this way that they have a much better start in life. :) busy_lizzie
Thanks for all the replies.
I have always started them off inside in the past, sometimes with great results, other times not. Which seems to be the general experience of folks on here judging by the number of threads in spring/summer on the problems that arise. What with global warming and all that and the fact that I live in a relatively warm area of the country (except when the east wind blows...) I just thought I might "do different" as we say in Norfolk. A lot of the seed packets mention sowing direct. Think I will experiment further next season.
I started my squashes in peat pellets. 100% germination, and a good crop. They were in a mini greenhouse until about 2-3inches and then planted on the compost heap through weed suppressant fabric. I was so pleased with the crop of 15 squashes from 5 plants.
What is it with slugs - they sit there with their mouths open, waiting to pounce on seedlings that have just been transplanted or sown - but ignore the self-sown ones ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
interesting topic as I had a few wild squashes crop up this year (from compost) and let one grow - I got about 4 butternuts but it was later than the ones I started in pots. Slugs must have missed it.
This year I started squash/courgettes/cucumbers indoors and then potted on to 6" pots and waited as long as possible before planting them out - I hardened them off in the lean-to for a few weeks. i think I planted them out last week in may/1st week in june and was cropping the courgettes a few weeks later. They were really successful and because the soil was warmed up nicely they really hit the ground running. I also mulches between plants with SPM to retain moisture - I am not much of a waterer. This method worked well and I will repeat it.
Psi
PSI - being a bit dim this morning what is SPM? Cos I'm not much of a waterer either ;D
I didn't seem to have too much of a problem with slugs on my courgettes and pumpkins this year - I planted them out when they were fairly big, and through weed supressant. Sowing direct into the soil would certainly save on effort and time (and compost!), maybe I should try a couple next year to see what happens :-\
1066
Bump. I was hoping for reply to your question 1066.
I think SPM stands for shredded pine mulch, but am not 100% sure :-\ You could use most shredde wood mulch to retain the moisture though :)
that's a new one to me! I'm all in favour of mulching, good for the soil, good for the plants and saves me from too much weeding ;D
'silver plastic mulch?'
Quote from: tonybloke on November 05, 2009, 20:09:28
'silver plastic mulch?'
what the beeping heck is that???? :-\
If you use a wood mulch you'll lose some nitrogen from the soil, but I don't know how much. It rots slowly so I suspect not much. The one time I've used it, I grew beans though it.
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on November 06, 2009, 15:45:27
If you use a wood mulch you'll lose some nitrogen from the soil, but I don't know how much. It rots slowly so I suspect not much. The one time I've used it, I grew beans though it.
Probably a good choice, beans won't care about the nitrogen, they'll make it themselves but they love the moisture :D.... I've got a load of woodchips in bags from the folks having some trees taken out.... I'll give that a go on my benas next year....
chrisc
Quote from: chriscross1966 on November 06, 2009, 17:42:51
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on November 06, 2009, 15:45:27
If you use a wood mulch you'll lose some nitrogen from the soil, but I don't know how much. It rots slowly so I suspect not much. The one time I've used it, I grew beans though it.
Probably a good choice, beans won't care about the nitrogen, they'll make it themselves but they love the moisture :D.... I've got a load of woodchips in bags from the folks having some trees taken out.... I'll give that a go on my benas next year....
chrisc
If you use a wood chip mulch you might want to consider getting some mushroom spawn for one of the woodchip eating mushrooms and seeing if you can get yourself an additional crop for free as it breaks down.