Squash Seedlings

[pdxwindjammer]

I am growing several squash, both winter and summer, from seed in flats. A few have shot up and grown very tall even though they are outside most of the time. I don't have enough room to put them under my lighting set up as that is reserved for my tomato seedlings.

I am about to replant these today. Should I bury them a little deeper than they currently are or will it kill them?

I usually sow directly into my garden but I am growing seedlings for our local homeless camp this year so starting them in flats and repotting them today.

[pdxwindjammer]

Should have done a bit more research on this before starting the seeds. Seems that squash doesn't repot well. Live and learn and a silly newbie mistake! Has anyone had success with repotting squash?

[kath]

I've only used 4" peat pots for growing them indoors and they've done well. It only takes 3-4 weeks until they're ready to go into the garden so I haven't had any fuzzy, moldy problems with the peat pots.

[Tormato]

'jammer,

I don't repot, but I do start seeds in large pots (8") and transplant them after 4 weeks. I have 100% success with this method.

Tormato

[montanamato]

I have used squash transplants for 5 or 6 years...i start them May 1 and go to the garden about June 5 with them....I put out 8 or 9 varieties and rarely lose ones...They transplant easier than cukes for me, however I don't lose many cukes either...
Just like any transplant, try to pick favorable conditions and sometimes I shield mine from wind for a few days, especially if they are long and spindly...

Jeanne

[b54red]

I have also been transplanting squash successfully for years. I just start them in a styrofoam coffee cup and when they get large enough to have a good root system I plant them in the garden. The trick with squash and cucumbers is to be sure not to disturb the roots too much. Sometimes for no reason that I can determine the plants get leggy and I always plant them deeper than the more stocky plants.

[nctomatoman]

I find the plug flats perfect for starting squash, melons or cukes - the 50 cell flats with the 1.5 inch cells - one seed per cell - easy to pop out when ready to go with no root disturbance. It is also fine to plant them deep when putting them into the garden - squash also root along their stem.

[easttx_hippie]

- squash also root along their stem.

Thanks nctomatoman, that answers the question both pdxwindjammer and I were asking.

Tomorrow the squash goes in the ground.

[Frog]

I often repot, without any serious issues. They sulk for a while, but soon pick up.

[salix]

Thought I would add my homemade potting solution. I cut the bottoms from tall yoghurt, margarine or other tall plastic tubs. Then snap the lid back on and fill with potting mix and plant your small transplant (deeply). When the time comes to plant out in the garden, just snap off the lid (now on the bottom), place into the planting hole and slide off the container. Since the tapered end is now at the top, the plant will slide out very easily. Cheap, re-usable, and recycled. I suppose in a longer growing season area the extra potting up step may not be necessary, but up here it is...

[OmahaJB]

Have a question. On my Musquee De Provence seed packet the growing instructions are to direct seed in 12" diameter hills. If I want to start inside and transplant seedlings in 3 or 4 weeks, do I still need to use hills to plant them in?

And a second question - have any of you used containers to grow squash in before with success?

TIA, Jeff

[veggie babe]

This is just my opinion, I have planted extra squash plants to fill in gaps in my garden in the past and they were planted in the row with other vegies. I think they need soil, water and organic fert.
I do not have good look transplanting squash plants so I direct plant most of the time.

Neva

[Worth1]

Squash and cucumbers dont like their roots disturbed but yes I do put squash in starting pots and sow directly in the soil it seems as though the latter is just as good for me.

I now have my first baby squash this year and the cucumbers are right around the corner.

Worth