This is my tray of spaghetti squash. They are one plant per 2.5" x 2.5" cell right now. And WOW! They grew way faster than I expected! 1 week from planting the seed to this. I have probably at least 3 weeks before I can put them in the ground. How long can they stay in these smaller cells before I need to pot up? I was hoping to not have to do that… When I pot up, is 4" big enough?
by Clean_Following5895
4 Comments
I usually start summer squash 3 weeks before transplant, as they do grow quickly. Squash are the one thing I use bigger pots (4″ or Solo cups) for. I would think you could get away with the extra week; I’ve probably held them that long some years due to uncooperative weather.
You should just plan on direct seeding them in the ground when danger of frost has passed. They will likely catch up with these transplanted ones and you’d never know the difference.
Most cucurbits like these do much better when their roots are not disturbed by transplanting, and it’s less work.
You don’t gain much by starting indoors like you do with slower growing fruits like peppers and tomatoes.
To answer your question though, if you’re set on transplanting them, I’d go ahead and put them up now, but be gentle. A 4 inch pot will probably take them through the next 3 weeks that you need. We sell potted cucurbits at the farm I work for, but we do them in 4″ decomposable peat pots so the entire pot can be planted in the ground. This helps minimize transplant shock.
they need to be potted up like right now so they don’t get stunted.
I just moved mine into solo cups this week