Starting Squash - Which Way Works Best?
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- Опубліковано 25 тра 2024
- It’s time to plant out the winter squash! I’m starting my squashes and melons three different ways this season, and I’m hoping to compare results as the season goes on. We’ll experiment together and see which method gives us the best results.
It’s kind of early for me to say about the success of this. But this year I tried starting some cucumbers and pumpkin in cow pots and so far it’s worked pretty good. They deteriorate a lot faster. Thank you for sharing your video. God bless you and your family. Duane
I hope they continue to do well for you! That’s a great way to minimize root disturbance.
I have used biodegradable pots for squash starts the last few years and it has worked really well for me. I've also used plastic pots and as long as they don't get too big in the pots it seems to work ok. I have done seeds in-ground before and it is fine, but sometimes they don't seem to germinate and I hate to have to restart late after they fail to germinate. My zucchini are starting to flower in zone 5b, so they are definitely a bit ahead of schedule versus direct seeding.
I agree, it’s frustrating to wait to know if seeds don’t germinate, and then get behind on the season having to start over. I’m glad to hear the biodegradable pots are working well for you!
Excellent video. I love the videos that show several different ways to do things. I'm a single mom and it gives me good bang for my time 😂. New Sunscriber ❤
I agree, I love to have options too! Sometimes it just works better for different people in different growing conditions to garden in different ways. Thank you for watching!
In the past I have alwas DIRECT SOWN. I had tonstart transplanta this year because of all of the unexpected rain. The pests and seedlings dying was very unexpected do to our unusually damp conditions considering we are semi arid here in central Texas.
I hope that your transplants do well with the unusual weather!
Thank you!
Thank you for watching!
Really looking forward to the results of your experiment! I have direct sown zucchini and winter squash every year with great results in Zone 5. But decided to start plants this year instead from seeds I grew inside. I will se if they do any better or not...
I can’t wait to see the results too! I hope that your squash transplants do really well this year!
Another method of starting in the ground is to plant seeds or sprouted seeds in cups, then dig the cup into a hole...leaving an inch or so above the soil line. The cup or starting pot needs good drainage, and the surrounding soil should be pushed flush against the cup-mimicking a direct, in-ground sowing experience. This helps you control the seed medium a little better than placing directly in living soil, and also eliminates the need for plant collars. It also buys you some time to move the plant somewhere else if it's not doing great...without disturbing the roots, and at the same time, the plant is exposed immediately to outdoor conditions. 😊🌱
That sounds like a great option too! Do you remove the bottom of the cup before planting?
@@HomesteadOnAPrayer No, I don't remove the bottom of the cup before planting...just make sure it has adequate drainage in the bottom. This method...for me, at least, is an option to control the growing medium (and protect the plant a little better) while offering outdoor conditions to grow that mimic being in the ground...but you can have your seeds in sterile medium rather than being exposed to the soil life when they're fragile. When the plant is strong enough, just remove it from the cup and replace everything into the hole the cup was in. Hope this is helpful, and good luck! 👍🌱
Oh, and PS...LOL...
I find this method works especially well with sprouted seeds!
Can melons, pumpkins and squash cross pollinate?
They can all cross pollinate with other varieties of their species - different squash varieties can cross with each other for example, but not with cucumbers or melons.
@@HomesteadOnAPrayer By planting the 2 pumpkins beside each other, you will likely not get true seeds-if you are planning to save seeds. If you are vigilant, you might be able to isolate flowers with organza bags to get at least one true fruit/variety. I think seed-saving is important, so that always factors into my plans...👍🌱