Squash Round Green F1 pack of 20 seeds

Squash Round Green Factors Affecting Squash Seedling Growth

Squash Round Green can either be directly sown at the right time of year outdoors or started inside and transplanted once the weather is agreeable. In either case, squash seeds need the right environmental conditions in order to germinate. 

Temperature

Squash Round Green, both winter and summer, is a warm-season crop. Seeds can be directly sown into the garden after all danger of frost has passed or started indoors three to four weeks before your last frost date to be transplanted out. 

Squash seeds germinate best when soil temperatures are between 70 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This means, that when starting them indoors, you’ll most likely want to use a heat mat to ensure warm soils. 

Squash Round Green Planting Medium

While any seedling mix will do the trick when starting seeds indoors, squash will not tolerate poor soil quality once transplanted out or directly sown. You’ll want nutrient-rich soil to ensure those heavy yields that squash is known for. Consider fertilizing your plants regularly or mixing in plenty of compost and a slow-release fertilizer into the soil ahead of planting. 

Squash Round Green Light Requirements

A lack of sunlight could inhibit your seedling development when starting indoors. Consider setting up grow lights so that your seedlings can get the light they need. When direct seeding squash seeds you’ll want to consider sunlight as well. Squash will grow best in full sun, so take that into consideration when giving them their permanent summer home. 

Squash Round Green Water Needs

As explained above, water plays a huge role in germination. You must provide enough water for the seed to swell and burst the seed coat. In fact, improper watering is the number one reason gardeners have poor germination rates. 

Squash Round Green Common Challenges and Solutions

There are a number of issues you can run into with squash seedlings, but they’re easy enough to avoid with understanding and a few preventative measures. 

Squash Round Green Damping Off

Damping off is a fungal issue that can be exacerbated by certain environmental factors. The fungus can cause seeds to decay without germination or affect seedlings. Typically the stem at the soil surface will turn brown and the seedling will fall over, killing it. 

Once damping off begins, there is no turning it around, however, there are some steps you can take to mitigate the effects of this fungus or stop it entirely! Damping off is exacerbated by cold, wet conditions. This means that overwatering coupled with a lack of a heat mat can make things worse. Airflow can also affect damping off. We recommend keeping a fan running in the room where your seedlings are growing. Keeping air moving around the room can help to mitigate all fungal issues! 

Squash Round Green Leggy Seedlings

“Legginess,” as we call it, refers to a seedling with an oddly long stem. Often leggy seedlings will be leaning one way as if reaching for something, and this something is most often a light source. If you notice your seedlings getting leggy, you’ll want to give them more light by either moving your existing grow lights closer to the plants or giving them more time outside in the sun (while watching for cold weather, of course).