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Bemidji Minnesota

The only squash variety this year doing any good is my AG.

Odd, but maybe because it has had to get climatized early on, did not get a long stalk, and was started in the same type of soil it went into, or maybe the structure keeping it from the cold night we had here is why it has had not problems yet.

The OTHER squashes however look like heck, except for the ones I replanted, but started directly in the garden instead of indoors.

So did I leave them in the starter pots to long?

Was the 5th of May to early and they now got cold damage stunting them?

Transplant shock?

Or just better to direct start some varietys in the dirt?

Butternuts are a perfact example of this. All of mine died, except for one, and it looks like heck, but the one I direct put out there, and on a plant that is only 1/4th as old, looks like it is surpasing the other.

The ones started indoors did kind of have long salks. Could it be because of this? I can figure that a longer beggining stalk, from the cots, to the roots, means a longer time and distance for nutrients to be wasted going between them.

SO if anyone has why direct sewing works better for me this your, I would love to know.

Thanks all.

5/17/2008 12:01:29 AM

Cincinnati,OH

It's probably a combination of being in the pots too long and not hardening them off.
If you move a plant grown under artificial light directly out into the full sun for an entire day it can cause serious sunscald. A move from a very warm enviroment into a cold one will also slam the brakes on growth.
After sprouting I like to get those plants in the ground within a week.

5/17/2008 7:10:07 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

hardening off is very important. i harden mine atleast 4 days.

5/17/2008 11:35:34 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

Ohh well, being that is warm enough now, and the ones I replaced went in directly and are doing well.

The ones that looked like they would pull through are starting to grow now too.

Some have new starts near by, and I will just keep an eye on the ones that are growing better/faster to see what I keep.

The good news is my AG, which I did care for better from the start, is doing just fine, no signs of scalding, or cold issues either.

I don't bat an eyelash if I lose an acorn or butternut,I can also restart them and still get a good season, as is the case now. The seeds are not costly, and I can get them at the local seed shop if I need more, but i have enough to last several year anyway. I rost most of my C.Pepo seeds, as I have a about 5 dozen left that continue to give good plants and pumpkins each year.

Thanks for the input on what stunted my squash.

5/18/2008 9:18:17 PM

Chicago il.

Check if your plants are being eaten by corn-seed maggots . Two of my squashes were killed by them.

5/28/2008 9:17:57 PM

Columbus,ohio

they hate to be transplanted

6/20/2008 3:56:52 PM