Allotments 4 All

Couldn't wait any longer! I wanted to get at least one of each variety chitting early, here they are in the perfect 'nests'. Nothing sacred in my household ;D

What happens next please?

They would look interesting floating in a G&T!  ;D

Hi marsh, will wait til a little sprout is out, and pot up. I will do another planting at the usual time, in ten days or so - this is the 'earlies'.
LOL@e-j, you might feel a bit seedy next day


Arg :-[

This is going to be my first year doing squash, is it necessary to do this, can you tell me ~ why not put straight into seed compost?

Quite right tilts, I normally do for my main planting - the less seeds get faffed around with, the better I think. But I wanted some guaranteed early plants of a big range this year, so am chitting a couple of each earlier than usual. It's an experiment. Sometimes I let my compost get a little damp and the seeds sulk and go mouldy, so I hope to ensure there are viable sprouts before these early ones go in the compost. I have also planted squash directly outside in mid-May in the ground :o for later plants, but it's hard to wait isn't it?

I put them somewhere really warm to germinate; that seems to be the key. Once they've started, temperature doesn't seem to be quite as critical.

I'm sure you're right about the initial sprouting temp being the one to achieve Robert. They are in the warmest room in the house to sprout. I wanted to be sure I could see them 'break cover', then they'll go on the windowsill in pots with the toms, marigolds, artichokes etc. etc. and take their chance like the rest of us!

for two years running we've just shoved them in some potting compost and left them in the kitchen.  The patty pans were enormous and grew like mad (inc the fruits); the autum squash were low fruiters and the butternut were average.

This year ours are healthy and 4" tall; when they get a bit bigger we'll pot them on (peat pot included for minimum root distubance) till they're about 10" hgih, then they'll go into the ground.

does the chitting produce a higher yield or is it just to get a few early plants in?

It's to do with wanting early examples of these squash. I don't think there's any advantage in chitting except to be absolutely sure as soon as possible that the 'early' squash get started - if I had two non-viable seeds and no sprout shows, I can get new ones started in four or five days, rather than a fortnight! I don't usually like fussing over me veg ;)
First to chit went into pots this morning:
Crown Prince
Thelma Sanders
Honey Boat Delicata
Black Futsu
Buttercup

Watching the rest like a hawk!