Hey everyone! I'm looking for advice on sprouting and transplanting cucumbers, melons, and squash. I realize these plants generally don't like being moved around too much. I'm in Zone 3, and with a greenhouse going up this summer, I hope to kickstart my growing season. I usually have to start my plants pretty early, or I'll end up waiting until September for my harvest, and even then, the fruits are often on the smaller side. So, I'm hoping to set up a solid system for seedlings and transplants, any tips would be appreciated!
3 Answers
I usually start my seeds in solo cups or large pots right before they can be planted outside. I let them grow for a week or two and then transplant them directly into the garden. This timing helps because their roots haven’t completely filled the pots, making for easier transplanting. But watch out! If they're indoors too long, they get leggy and stall out after being transplanted. I also found that when I try to plant directly outside, pests like bugs and birds tend to destroy the seedlings!
The key is to minimize disruptions during the process. I recommend germinating seeds directly in larger containers instead of starting in trays. This way, you can go straight from the pot to the ground, skipping that whole tray-to-pot step. It might be a bit trickier to manage moisture at first, but trust me, it’s worth it for less root disturbance later!
I've totally fallen in love with using red and clear solo cups for starting my seedlings. Just cut a couple of vents in the bottom of the red cup, place that inside a clear one, fill with soil, and add your seeds. Water them until you see the water covering the vents of the red cup. If your clear cups are too similar in size, you can prop the red one up a bit with a stick or marble. This way, they're easy to transport in a pan after planting!
Yeah, I've had the same issues with pests! It's super frustrating. I started putting down barriers around my seedlings when they were young, and that helped a lot.