On 6/10/2015 1:34 PM, Terry Coombs wrote:
T wrote:
On 06/09/2015 04:42 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
T wrote:
Hi All,

I planted zuke seeds in these cute little 3" peat moss
cups. Three per cup. Not all the cups have sprouted
(I know, PATIENCE!).

When I go to plant them in my garden, can I separate
the multiple sprouts from the same cups, or should
I just prune out the two small ones?

Many thanks,
-T

I like to leave the 2 strongest in each hill . You think zukes take
patience ? Try sprouting Anaheim peppers . My record is zero sprouts
for two years effort . Grrr . Which reminds me I need to get the
okra seedlings in the ground .

Unless your seed is old it is common to get very high germination
rates for curcubits so I wouldn't be putting more than one seed per
pot anyway. If you do, chop the weakest and don't disturb the roots
of the best, curcubits resent this and it will tend to set them
back. This is the reason that the traditional planting advice is to
sow directly. My system is to plant them in tubes, the square-section
plastic sort
that you buy tubestock in that are about 15cm (6") deep and 5cm (2")
across. These encourage the roots to go down not around and you can
get the whole plug out in one chunk at transplant time so there is no
transplant shock. These are much more effective than shallow jiffy
pots. If you want (say) 3 plants you can sow 5 or 6 and plant out
only the best. This system costs almost nothing and invariably
produces strong seedlings that take off in the ground quickly.


Thank you!

Toilet paper tubes work well too ...

Yup, took your advice on those last fall, also can include paper towel
rolls, neatly cut of course. They rotted out quicker than the peat moss
cups and just disappeared.

Hot as Hades outside now, having to water the raised beds daily. Squash
is dying out from the heat, green beans are blooming again, crowder peas
just started blooming, tomatoes are coming in ripe heavily as are the
eggplant and cukes. For some reason the sweet chiles aren't doing well,
haven't found out why yet as last year we got tons of chiles.

George