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| At the beginning of this month, I started yellow crookneck squash and butternut squash to be transplants - the yellows in plastic cells and the butternuts in paper towel tube starters. After they had already sprouted, I began to read from many sources that squash plants do not transplant well. I was worried that I had doomed all my little seedlings!
However, I am posting this to attest that I planted my butternut transplants and yellow crookneck transplants outside in the garden when they had at least 1 true leaf, and 2 of the yellows had only cotyledons. All are growing rapidly and have not shown any sign that transplanting bothered them! In fact, I put the 8 yellow squash in a bad location where my husband and dog continually trample them daily despite my cries of "LOOK OUT FOR THE SQUASH!" After every trampling I set the little guys upright as best as I can. They are all thriving! Despite transplanting and daily maulings from a man and a dog! So... just wanted others who are unsure of transplanting squash to know that I had no problems with it... those squash are hardy as heck! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Sounds like you timed it just right. Most of the warnings about transplanting squash is for after they develop several true leaves. They are much less tolerant at that stage and tend to stunt. Standard warning is usually "before the second true leaf" stage is ok. But like you, transplanting at cotyledon stage is usually no problem (except for hubby and the dog). In all honesty it gains you nothing over direct seeding but it does give you a sense of accomplishment. Enjoy your squash. Dave |
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| Thanks for the info Dave! I'm a new gardener so I'm apt to jump into things headfirst! Next year I won't bother with growing them in trays first and just direct seed. :) Jenny |
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| I often read on here that squash do not transplant well. And I often reply that over here we have to transplant them because the climate is such that by the time the soil is warm enough to germinate them outdoors it is well into mid summer. We routinely transplant young plants with plenty of true leaves. Seems to work for us. On the other hand we are always told that you can't transplant beets, carrots and other roots so I was amazed when I saw on this forum that people do it all the time in the US and the sky does not fall in. There are so many gardening notions we are told are right or wrong and they're really not as hard and fast as the books and magazines would have us believe. Many seem to me to be fashion or habit. Well done aixponsa for doing the practical experiment. |
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