[PennyS]

Hello,

I read the other day that when you pot up Cucumbers you can plant them deeper like you can with toms.  I wondered if this would apply to Courgettes/squashes, as they're related.

To be honest I've often ended up with slightly leggy courgettes cos I don't have a greenhouse so I have to start things off indoors (not always ideal). It's never really been a problem because they just sprawl anyway as they grow.  But I did wonder if I could pop them a bit deeper as I pot on...   I've got quite a few squashes this year too, which I'm new to.

Advice very welcome.

[Ian_P]

Hi Penny, I'm in my sixth season now and my courgettes have always gone leggy for just the same reason, but they have always grown and cropped fine once they are planted out. I wouldn't worry about it.

[DD.]

No problems with planting them a bit deeper.

To help prevent leggyness, put some aluminium foil behind the seedling to reflect the light. This can almost double the amount of light the plant gets and stops them being drawn one way.

[Aunt Sally]

... but once planted deeper don/t get the crowns too wet

I plant mine (cumbers too) on a mound with a moat around it for watering.

[PennyS]

Thanks DD and Aunt Sally.

I did do the aluminium foil but even still they do look a bit leggy.

In fact my kids made me some "screens" - they drew nice colourful pictures of flowers on the back of cornflake packets, we stuck aluminium foil on the other side.  These foil "panels"  have been propped up behind the seed trays on the kitchen windowsill  to reflect the light whilst the lovely pictures give OH somethign more interesting to look at while he's washing up 

I'll be potting up at the weekend.  Will let you know how they go.
Cheers, Penny

[JayG]

I plant mine (cumbers too) on a mound with a moat around it for watering.

So it WAS you I saw picking courgettes at Bodiam Castle last year! 

[Aunt Sally]

Possibly 

[PennyS]

I plant mine (cumbers too) on a mound with a moat around it for watering.

I never realised we had such posh allotmenteers on here!

[Kristen]

I plant them up to their seed leaves, but never deeper. I don't think that Cucumbers, Courgettes, Squash, Pumpkins etc. like to get their stems wet, so I plant them "raised" so water runs away from the stem.

Having said that the bottom stems of my Cucumbers always produce things that look like they would convert to roots if planted deeper.

My Tomatoes OTOH I do bury deep as they create roots from the stem.

[dig4victory]

Great plating and watering tips here, guys - thanks! 

I am looking forward to making my famous chocolate & courgette brownies many times later in the year with hopefully a bumper crop.  If anyone is out on the plot after baking, I'll pass the plateful round!