Growing straight neck squash from seed

[Meadowlark]

I transplant my summer squash, winter squash, cucumbers, melons ...

Interesting...I use a totally opposite approach on each of those, i.e. I direct seed all squash. cucumbers, and melons.

I haven't found any advantage to starting and transplanting those in my climate.

 

[YumYum]

Interesting...I use a totally opposite approach on each of those, i.e. I direct seed all squash. cucumbers, and melons.

I haven't found any advantage to starting and transplanting those in my climate.

I'm not saying there is an advantage either way if the soil is warm enough. I've just always started mine in cells. I do the same in Summer for a late crop. Easier for me to water a tray than somewhere else in the garden. I'm saying I don't have troubles with transplanting them. Basically I'd say they grow fast enough so that if the soil is warm, they probably grow the same either which way you do it.

 

[Don Perry]

The weather here in south central Oklahoma just doesn't allow me to plant yet. Had big thunder storms all night last night, The garden is just one big mud hole this morning. anything that I plant would have been washed down to the creek. Still storming this morning.
I have plenty seeds. Might plant in the fibrous grow cups, plant seed in the ground when the weather settles, or just buy plants already started from Lowe's. It's a long season and I have many options.

 

[Don Perry]

I'm no expert, but it seems the squash take right off and it's hard to keep them healthy until you plant in the ground. I transferred in the past and they did ok, but this year I'm putting the seeds right in the ground.

Do you have any in the ground now? I'd think not yet, given your locale. What is your planting zone?

On a new note: I did transfer everything to the 4" fiber pots. Only lost one squash plant. The edges of the leaves on the squash are turning brown as if they are burned from too much light. HMmm?

 

[Chuck]

Do you have any in the ground now? I'd think not yet, given your locale. What is your planting zone?

On a new note: I did transfer everything to the 4" fiber pots. Only lost one squash plant. The edges of the leaves on the squash are turning brown as if they are burned from too much light. HMmm?

Or, could the edges be browning from improper watering? That is a sign of either too much or too little water and those little cells dry out very quickly. But whatever the cause repotting should take care of the problem

 

[Don Perry]

Thanks to all of y 'all's advice.
Whoops , got to go ! Sirens just went off. Tornado alert!

 

[Meadowlark]

Strong south winds right off the Gulf have been pushing warm humid air your way the last several days.

Hopefully no tornados but I've found those winds seem to encourage root system growth in my young garden plants...what doesn't kill them makes them stronger.

 

[Don Perry]

What floods them out washes them away!

 

[Don Perry]

Do y'all snip off those "baby" leaves after the plant has true leaves? I repotted all i had room for and they look like they are doing better. Is it time to add a half strength fertilizer to the water?

 

[YumYum]

Do y'all snip off those "baby" leaves after the plant has true leaves? I repotted all i had room for and they look like they are doing better. Is it time to add a half strength fertilizer to the water?

Not unless they yellow or look bad. Sometimes I do when I transplant them. If they have true leaves, you can start to fertilize.

 

[Don Perry]

I repotted everything and they look a little shocked, but they're coming back now. Watering with a little Miracle Grow in the water helped. We are looking at major storms tonight and I don't want to see all my veggies washed down the hill like last year.
I'm going out and cultivate in some hot soil into my beds before the rain hits. Wish me luck!

 

[Don Perry]

Thanks , Chuck. I repotted into the fiber cups and everything perked right up. Now to get it in the garden.

 

[Don Perry]

I put everything in 4" fiber pots today. Big storms rolling through again! I have GOT to get something in the ground besides potatoes and red onions.
When you repot into the 4" pots do you water then or wait?

 

[Don Perry]

The squash are now in a raised bed. Yay! I have 3 ten foot raised beds . #1 has yellow pear tomatoes, Brandy Wine tomatoes. #2has straight neck squash and #3 has cucumbers. Now I need to make three more raised beds for okra, jalapeños and eggplant.