- Sowing in a patch in your garden box
- Thinning your seedlings: what, why, and how
- Pre-sprouting snow peas, winter peas, and sugar snaps
- How to pre-sow with vermiculite
- How do you take care of pre-sown plants?
- Ice saints and hardening off your seedlings
- Pre-sowing zucchinis, cucumbers and pumpkins
- How long do your seeds stay good?
- Are your old seeds still good?
- Harvesting seeds yourself
- Are zucchini and pumpkin seeds unsafe?
Almost all information about plants has been included with the plants in our free app. So, you don't need to remember it.
View the MM app
- Sowing in a patch in your garden box
- Thinning your seedlings: what, why, and how
- Pre-sprouting snow peas, winter peas, and sugar snaps
- How to pre-sow with vermiculite
- How do you take care of pre-sown plants?
- Ice saints and hardening off your seedlings
- Pre-sowing zucchinis, cucumbers and pumpkins
- How long do your seeds stay good?
- Are your old seeds still good?
- Harvesting seeds yourself
- Are zucchini and pumpkin seeds unsafe?
Technieken
(Voor-)zaaien
Pre-sowing zucchinis and cucumbers
The best time to pre-sow zucchini and cucumbers (and pumpkins) indoors is from late April to late May.
Many gardeners do it earlier, but you don't need to: the plants grow super fast.
Plus, caring for your plants on the windowsill isn't so easy. They often don't get enough light. So, the less time you spend growing them indoors, the better. (You can even start as late as mid-June).
Plus, caring for your plants on the windowsill isn't so easy. They often don't get enough light. So, the less time you spend growing them indoors, the better. (You can even start as late as mid-June).
How do you pre-sow cucumbers, zucchinis and pumpkins?
It's super easy. If you have the Planty Gardening app, use that. If not, read more here.
1. Start by pre-sprouting the seeds
Pre-sprouting - or pre-germinating - means letting your seeds produces a root before you sow them.
If you pre-sprout your seeds you can be sure your seedlings will grow well. And you want to be sure: these zucchini seeds aren't cheap. Why risk it? 😉
Here's how to pre-sprout: get a piece of paper towel moist, fold it in half, put the seeds in between the 2 layers. That's it.
If you pre-sprout your seeds you can be sure your seedlings will grow well. And you want to be sure: these zucchini seeds aren't cheap. Why risk it? 😉
Here's how to pre-sprout: get a piece of paper towel moist, fold it in half, put the seeds in between the 2 layers. That's it.
I put the paper towel and seeds in closed deli containers so they stay moist. The seeds only germinate above 20°C. If the temperature's lower than that, and they won't sprout.
Check every now and then for a root. Sometimes roots appear after 2-3 days, and sometimes it takes a little longer.
Check every now and then for a root. Sometimes roots appear after 2-3 days, and sometimes it takes a little longer.
2. Put the pre-sprouted seeds in pots
Here's what you need:
- pre-sprouted seeds
- big sized MM-Airpots
- MM pre-sowing mix
Fill the air pots with the mix.
(No air pots? You can pre-sow in normal pots. Just use bigger ones: at least 12 cm in diameter.)
This mixture is ideal because seedlings don't need a lot of nutrients yet. The MM-Mix alone is too rich. Too many nutrients and they'll grow too fast: the plants become limp instead of sturdy. The mix also helps retain moisture.
Once you've filled up your pot, add the seeds: put 1 zucchini or pumpkin seed in each air pot, 2 per pot for cucumber seeds. Be careful: you don't want the root to break off.
Then put the pot in a bowl or saucer, add some water, and put it in a warm place on the windowsill.
That's it.
Seedlings in the windowsill
When you pre-sow like this, your seedlings pop up fast. When that happens, put your pots in a light - but not too warm - spot.
Four to five days later, this is what they look like:
No problem. The plant is forming new roots and a solid root system.
Since the pot is pretty small, cucumber, zucchini, and pumpkin plants need to be moved to their final home within a month.
Did you start the process early and is it not warm enough outside to transplant your plants? Then put them in a larger pots with 100% soil mix.
To avoid this extra step, I start pre-sowing as late as possible: around the end of April 🙂
Since the pot is pretty small, cucumber, zucchini, and pumpkin plants need to be moved to their final home within a month.
Did you start the process early and is it not warm enough outside to transplant your plants? Then put them in a larger pots with 100% soil mix.
To avoid this extra step, I start pre-sowing as late as possible: around the end of April 🙂
Growing up
Pumpkins, cucumbers, and zucchinis grow really fast.
Since I usually start pre-sowing at the end of April/ early May, the plants are ready for a cold frame after a few weeks. If you don't have a cold frame or greenhouse, then gradually let them get used to the outdoors around the end of May. Put them outside - pots and all - for a little longer every day.
Since I usually start pre-sowing at the end of April/ early May, the plants are ready for a cold frame after a few weeks. If you don't have a cold frame or greenhouse, then gradually let them get used to the outdoors around the end of May. Put them outside - pots and all - for a little longer every day.
Cucumber plants grow quickly, and zucchini and pumpkin plants even faster. It may seem like they're too big for the MM-Airpots.
But if you started at the end of April/beginning of May, then they only need to stay in the pots for 3 to 4 weeks. After that, you'll plant them in your garden box.
If you started earlier, then the plants will be too big and need more food. After 4 weeks, move them to a larger pot with just MM-Mix.
All the more reason not to start too early, right? 😉
But if you started at the end of April/beginning of May, then they only need to stay in the pots for 3 to 4 weeks. After that, you'll plant them in your garden box.
If you started earlier, then the plants will be too big and need more food. After 4 weeks, move them to a larger pot with just MM-Mix.
All the more reason not to start too early, right? 😉
Wait until the end of May to transplant your plants. By then, they should be nice and strong.
Put them in a square patch under a sturdy trellis.
That's especially important for your climbing zucchini. Because eventually, it will turn into this:
That's especially important for your climbing zucchini. Because eventually, it will turn into this:
You can find our climbing zucchini and our special snack cucumber in the shop. Both do great in a greenhouse or outside in your garden box.
The seed bags are sold separately or as part of the Climbers seed pack. This seed pack also includes our super sweet cherry tomato, delicious snow peas and Romano pole beans. Plus, they're cheaper when you buy in bulk😉
We've got pre-sowing mix and the MM-Airpots too. It's all there in the shop.
Baby pumpkin on the trellis
Have some space left in your garden box? Try a baby pumpkin. These small pumpkins aren't too heavy and can hang from your trellis.
The seed bags are sold separately or as part of the Climbers seed pack. This seed pack also includes our super sweet cherry tomato, delicious snow peas and Romano pole beans. Plus, they're cheaper when you buy in bulk😉
We've got pre-sowing mix and the MM-Airpots too. It's all there in the shop.
Baby pumpkin on the trellis
Have some space left in your garden box? Try a baby pumpkin. These small pumpkins aren't too heavy and can hang from your trellis.
Have fun in your Makkelijke Moestuin!
(Pre-)sowing
- Sowing in a patch in your garden box
- Thinning your seedlings: what, why, and how
- Pre-sprouting snow peas, winter peas, and sugar snaps
- How to pre-sow with vermiculite
- How do you take care of pre-sown plants?
- Ice saints and hardening off your seedlings
- Pre-sowing zucchinis, cucumbers and pumpkins
- How long do your seeds stay good?
- Are your old seeds still good?
- Harvesting seeds yourself
- Are zucchini and pumpkin seeds unsafe?
Get tips & tricks in your inbox
When you sign up, I’ll send you the top 3 things beginners get wrong. And how you can get it right.
We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy