With their frail root systems and fragile young stem , zucchini seedling can be a challenge to treat , but that does n’t mean they ca n’t be a great choice for your garden . If you ’ve got a short growing season , or are get a late start to your garden , planting seedlings can give your zucchini the jump - starting signal they involve .
Starting Indoors
If you ’re planning a orotund veggie garden , you may get started well before the last freeze by planting ejaculate indoors and growing them up to transplant into the garden . Zucchini seeds should be started 4 - 6 week before the last frost .
You ’ll require :
Be certain to habituate a planting tray with a large cellular telephone size of it . Unlike plant like tomato and common pepper , which can benefit from being transplanted into larger containers several times before they ever attain the garden , courgette seedling are fragile and do n’t take well to transplanting .
Wet your seed starting mix soundly , and plant one ejaculate per cellphone . Cover your grow trays and situate them in a burnished , affectionate location . Keep the soil moist but not sodden ; it should n’t ooze out piss if pressed . Once the seeds start to break through the soil , off the cover to prevent moulding .
Choosing Seedlings at a Garden Center
Though you may not find as many varieties of zucchini uncommitted as seedlings rather than seeds , many garden centers will have some on hired hand . If you ’re drive a late starting , do n’t have space to start your own seedlings , or need to substitute plants killed off by pests or conditions , pluck up a ingroup of seedlings at a garden heart and soul is a capital option .
Look for the smallest seedling you’re able to get hold . These tend to have the least develop root systems and can handle transplanting the best . Seed - starting medium is also low in nutrient , so lowering feeder like zucchini tend to get lank and malnourish the older the seedlings get . Look for thedarkest green leavesyou can find .
Transplanting
When you ’re ready to transplant , the first stone’s throw is “ hardening off , ” or acclimate your plant life to outside weather . After any peril of frost , forget them alfresco in a sunny , sheltered place . Leave them out for brusque periods at first , an hour or two at a time , then gradually extending this and moving your plant life closer to their final location in your garden .
Gently move out your seedling from their containers . If they do n’t slide spare , rationalise away the plastic to avoid disturbing the fragile root . Place them into pre - dug holes at least three feet ( 0.9 meters ) apart — farther if your variety farm large — and crusade ground firmly in place . piss well at soil degree ; this prevents the onset of fungal diseases likepowdery mildew .
