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Courgette seedlings - can I place them into their final pot when small?

EscapetothegardenEscapetothegarden Posts: 188
edited June 2023 in Fruit & veg
Hello! ☀️ 

Here is a photo of my courgette seedling - I have one more a bit bigger, but the rest are this size.

Would it be ok to plant them out in their final (huge) pot now? 

Thank you 💐


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Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    The short answer is No - way too small yet.  They appear not to even have true leaves yet so be patient and pot on as they grow and produce a decent root system.  
    Sorry to be a bit brutal  :D
  • EscapetothegardenEscapetothegarden Posts: 188
    Thank you! @philippasmith2

    No worries 😄 

    What size/numbers of sets of leaves should I be waiting until?
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Not sure if it's the same for courgettes, but I potted on my French Beans until they had two sets of true leaves, then they went into their final pots.
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    This will probably just confuse things but as the risk of frost has now gone it is possible to sow things like courgettes directly into the ground so no potting up involved.
  • EscapetothegardenEscapetothegarden Posts: 188
    @sheps thank you!

    @steephill I was thinking about that .. I don’t have a place in the ground (they’ll be going into large pots) but the weather has been great and seems to be settling.
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    My French Beans went into pots also @Escapetothegarden these are 40cm diameter pots to give you an idea of plant size when planted out.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think, as @steephill says, it's definitely easier due to the time of year, but I'd wait until they're slightly bigger because of the lack of proper leaves. However, if they've been sown outside rather than indoors, where they'd be more protected, it should be easier.
     
    As they're going into pots, you just need to be aware of conditions for them - whether very hot/dry or the opposite, because it's easier for them to fail when small, as opposed to the ground where they can access moisture more easily, but also have more balanced drainage. Mine were started inside, and planted out in containers when they were the sort of size in @Sheps' pic. The weather has been suitable for them too, and that makes a big difference. 
    Only you can make the judgement on the best approach  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    I find my brain scrambling - it makes some sense to me to plant something out if it's hardened off and the conditions are right, even if it's small.

    It also makes some sense to me to wait before potting on into giant pots...

    ...but this is contradictory! ...and actually I find small tomato plants into giant pots do very well indeed!

    So it leaves me wondering - what are the actual technical plant health and development issues in putting small plants in giant pots?
     Will this idea go the way of scorching leaves by watering in sunlight?

    Hmmm
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The biggest factor, IMO, is your climate. If you put something small into a final pot, and it's outside, you're at the mercy of the weather. Cold and wet is always the problem.
    If you live in a consistently drier area, it's much easier because there's a far lower risk of those pots getting waterlogged. That's what does for any small plant if it's in a large pot. I never put small potted plants out too early.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    I know that market gardener, Charles Dowding is firm believer of planting out small and does so most of the time, though he does cover the plants with fleece until and after they have established.
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