I'm new to gardening and have some summer squash seedlings growing in a cardboard egg carton. Most of them have sprouted and have strong cotyledons, but I'm unsure whether to wait until they have true leaves before I transplant them. Should I move them to my raised bed now or to a deeper biodegradable container I have (1.5 in x 1.5 in x 4 in deep)?
2 Answers
Transplanting outside is a good idea, but remember to harden them off first. Since squash germinates quickly, they don’t like having their roots disturbed too much. If you plan to direct sow in the future, maybe consider doing that unless you're worried about time before the frost. You could even put some seeds in the ground now if you're up for it!
You can definitely transplant them now! Since it's safe to handle the cotyledons, moving them before their roots get too cramped or they develop damping off disease is best. Just make sure to keep them safe and cozy after the transplant!
So hardening off is basically getting them used to being outside, right? I've been putting them out for 30 mins twice a day and keeping them well-watered. I’d love to direct sow, but I’m concerned about my clay soil. I don’t want to spend a ton on seeds without knowing if I can even keep them alive!