Hey! It’s green in here.
5 03 2008Sprouts are up! Sierra and I also planted a couple butternut squash. My wife noticed us doing this and informed me that I had never started squash indoors. That caught me by surprise, but she’s right. Hurm…wonder if it will make any difference. Last years squash crop was _EXTREME_.
First picture is from a few days ago after the first sprouting. The second picture is after some thinning. Notice I didn’t get 100% germination. My seeds are a year old and also my 4 year old and 2 year old did the planting ;) That’s why I usually start double what I need so I can pick from the strongest or hopefully have at least a couple sprout.
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Do you know why some plants aren’t supposed to be started indoors? I noticed on most sites and seed packs it says to sow squash in the garden, but of course you can buy squash at garden centers for transplant. I’m guessing certain plants are harder to transplant (as far as survival rate), but is that all it is? I was thinking of starting a few plants that aren’t “supposed” to be started inside just to see how it goes. Is it spring yet?
I believe that’s the reason. Or at least one of the reasons. I know some seeds take special needs to sprout which are difficult to duplicate. Or they don’t transplant well…etc…etc. It can’t hurt to try indoors I figure. So if they die I’m what??…a week or two behind my optimum schedule because I have to start over? I say go for it…if I fail I won’t try it again next year
Also, I don’t do the traditional transplant thing. I take the entire ball of dirt and put it in a bigger pot. Where as if you read the seed starting books they talk about grabbing the plant gently and laying it down in the dirt…blahblahblah. I figure why take the little guy out of the dirt he likes?….just give the roots more room. Of course I could be totally wrong but it worked for me last year.
Yeah, I think it has to do with transplanting. I started cucumbers inside once and apparently their roots get cramped really quickly. If they don’t have the chance to develop a good root structure right away they don’t do well. They might live, but the yield will be lower.