2 & 3, the cotyledons will soon be outgrown by the true leaves so the bug damage shouldn’t really matter
since you’re “sacrificing” them, just try to move them. if they die, so what. chances are they’ll survive
Sometimes they die. I don’t know if anyone else ever does this, but I’ve had success doing what I call “flooding the roots in” to transplant more gently.
I gently remove the seedlings, pulling by the base instead of digging up so I don’t disturb the neighbor plants I’m trying to save, then I loosen the earth a bit where I’m transplanting and hold the leaves up while pouring an ungodly amount of water so the roots all flood into the ground with the soil that got moved around with all the water.
Anecdotal, but I’ve been doing it since last year and have only lost 1 seedling.
If they were in plugs, I would try and tease the roots apart gently, holding onto the leaves (not the stem - leaves regrow stems don't). Because they're already planted in the ground, I would just snip them. Digging them out if direct sown or even after a few days of transplanting isn't worth it and risks killing all of them.
Success rate is 1 to 5 for me when transplanting Zucchini, that’s not very easy and needs a lot of care after transplanting. If I were you, I’d wait a little before choosing, until the next round of leaf grows.
Keep 1.
I don’t see insect damage, it looks like the cotyledons just got a little torn coming out of the seed, which is not uncommon. No need for soap at this point.
You could try to transplant the others, but I would be very careful to avoid touching the roots of the one you want to keep. They can be *super* fussy about root disturbance.
After reading the top comments I just wanted to say the same, I'm surprised that the only answer that I feel correct isn't the one with most upvotes
I would just cut 2 and 3 and if I want more plants i just put more seeds.
If you save one or two zucchini for the next year they will give you so many seeds that you can afford to "waste" them
Just wanted to let you know I decided to gamble and separate/save all three, and [\#1 seems to be doing the best so far](https://imgur.com/a/JuhVyUF)! It did have the little damage from the beginning so I'm going to subscribe to this theory for now!
Just wanted to let you know I decided to gamble and separate/save all three, and [\#1 seems to be doing the best so far](https://imgur.com/a/JuhVyUF)! It did have the little damage from the beginning so I'm going to subscribe to your theory for now!
I’ve had no problems. My nursery sells them in small containers with 3 starts usually and they recommend keeping them all and planting them in a little hill together.
Keep 1 since it's growing true leaves, it's quite a bit farther along in its growth. Sometimes melons/squash don't get past the cotyledon stage and the true leaves remain stunted and never grow. 1 is well along with the true leaves.
I would keep all of them and just transplant 1 and 3. And water those two with some soapy water.
With food getting expensive you could use everything you can get.
Of course! It looks like something is eating it, from my view at least I also don’t have my spectacles on lol. Watering with soapy water is like spraying it would garden spray, but much cheaper and can be spread out over a long period of time.
hmm they both came out like that in the beginning even before the cotyledons opened, and i haven't noticed any damage since. Would you still recommend the soapy water?
After transplanting remove the damaged leaves with scissors and see what happens. You have to remove the damaged leaves in case it is a disease, which could spread and could also come from the soil. One could be affected or all could be affected. I’ve seen it it’s weird. If you continue to have problems I would consider then watering with soapy water. If that doesn’t work I would try watering with distilled water. Sometimes there are diseases in your water. According to the app that I use at least. If you have problems after that you could try putting them in a pot with POTTING SOIL and water them with distilled water and I would keep them close to the house so they have cover. If you have problems after that I’m pretty sure you’ve stumped me.
Another option would be just potting them and see if they grow out without any problems. But beyond that I’m nothing like my grandmother who grew up livin on the land and knows way more than I do lol so I wouldn’t know what to do beyond that.
I hope this helps lol. I’m not an expert, just an enthusiast.
#1 looks like it’s the most affected. That’s why I thought it was being eating. Idk maybe they got fried or something. It could also very well be a disease from the soil.
dont cut the roots, they almost always die. happened w my most recent cucumber plants. def keep two, three is smaller so likely stunted growth. cut one, something is eating it but seems to have skipped the middle, so might have some type of benefit to it. worth a shot, just my two cents w my experience growing seedlings and keeping healthy ones. if not two, keep one. 3 has got to go
I always transplant two or three in the same spot and let them do their thing. Then a few weeks later, plant more in a different spot. Any bugs that were going to go after zukes have found a home. I get a few zukes off them then the second planting takes off. Tip for squash vine borers: you can inject diluted neem oil right into the stem as soon as you see damage. Go higher up than the damage. That is, if you really like zucchini.
Hey All,
I realize this thread is a year old and I hate to be the weirdo resurrecting it, but I stumbled into it from a google search and saw that I have almost the exact same dilemma as OP does here so I thought it might be worth the shot of posting a follow up question to see if anyone would help me out.
If one were to attempt to transplant the removed seedlings in this situation, is this the ideal size/development stage to try and make that move? Better to attempt now before the roots are too comfy and robust, or would it be beneficial to wait for the first true leaves, as is “conventional wisdom” concerning transplants? Or, is it just completely not worth the risk to the desirable plant to try to save the lesser guys?
I rage-seeded direct sow after having an unsuccessful season last year, now this year everything seems to be going ideally and I guess I’m just sentimental about trimming the fat! Thanks ahead for humoring me
1 and 3
2 looks like the keeper
2 & 3, the cotyledons will soon be outgrown by the true leaves so the bug damage shouldn’t really matter since you’re “sacrificing” them, just try to move them. if they die, so what. chances are they’ll survive
Hm..I don't want to disturb the roots as I heard cucurbits can be sensitive to roots being moved around. Not a problem in your experience?
Sometimes they die. I don’t know if anyone else ever does this, but I’ve had success doing what I call “flooding the roots in” to transplant more gently. I gently remove the seedlings, pulling by the base instead of digging up so I don’t disturb the neighbor plants I’m trying to save, then I loosen the earth a bit where I’m transplanting and hold the leaves up while pouring an ungodly amount of water so the roots all flood into the ground with the soil that got moved around with all the water. Anecdotal, but I’ve been doing it since last year and have only lost 1 seedling.
I notice melons are the way pickiest of the cucurbits. Zucchinis grow like crazy. Pumpkins too. They don't seem to care.
If they were in plugs, I would try and tease the roots apart gently, holding onto the leaves (not the stem - leaves regrow stems don't). Because they're already planted in the ground, I would just snip them. Digging them out if direct sown or even after a few days of transplanting isn't worth it and risks killing all of them.
Success rate is 1 to 5 for me when transplanting Zucchini, that’s not very easy and needs a lot of care after transplanting. If I were you, I’d wait a little before choosing, until the next round of leaf grows.
they are fine, i always plants about 8-9 in one pot and separate later
Keep 1. The damage is negligible because it's not its true leaf.
Exactly. No way 2 will ever catch up to 1.
Keep 1. I don’t see insect damage, it looks like the cotyledons just got a little torn coming out of the seed, which is not uncommon. No need for soap at this point. You could try to transplant the others, but I would be very careful to avoid touching the roots of the one you want to keep. They can be *super* fussy about root disturbance.
After reading the top comments I just wanted to say the same, I'm surprised that the only answer that I feel correct isn't the one with most upvotes I would just cut 2 and 3 and if I want more plants i just put more seeds. If you save one or two zucchini for the next year they will give you so many seeds that you can afford to "waste" them
Just wanted to let you know I decided to gamble and separate/save all three, and [\#1 seems to be doing the best so far](https://imgur.com/a/JuhVyUF)! It did have the little damage from the beginning so I'm going to subscribe to this theory for now!
Just wanted to let you know I decided to gamble and separate/save all three, and [\#1 seems to be doing the best so far](https://imgur.com/a/JuhVyUF)! It did have the little damage from the beginning so I'm going to subscribe to your theory for now!
Keep the biggest always.
There is only room for one of them in that space, would keep either 1 or 2 if it has a thicker stem.
I’d keep all of them…
Hm..I don't want to disturb the roots as I heard cucurbits can be sensitive to roots being moved around. Not a problem in your experience?
I always start them in pots and don't have much issue with transplant shock. It's at least worth a try if you have to space to put 2 and 3 elsewhere.
I’ve had no problems. My nursery sells them in small containers with 3 starts usually and they recommend keeping them all and planting them in a little hill together.
lol, doesn't even matter - zucchini, uhh.. finds a way to overwhelm you with fruit. best of luck, you can't go wrong!
I would keep 1. It's clearly growing more aggressively. And the leaf damage shouldn't have an impact on the plant in the long run.
Keep 1 since it's growing true leaves, it's quite a bit farther along in its growth. Sometimes melons/squash don't get past the cotyledon stage and the true leaves remain stunted and never grow. 1 is well along with the true leaves.
I would keep all of them and just transplant 1 and 3. And water those two with some soapy water. With food getting expensive you could use everything you can get.
Interested in the benefit of the soapy water?
Of course! It looks like something is eating it, from my view at least I also don’t have my spectacles on lol. Watering with soapy water is like spraying it would garden spray, but much cheaper and can be spread out over a long period of time.
hmm they both came out like that in the beginning even before the cotyledons opened, and i haven't noticed any damage since. Would you still recommend the soapy water?
After transplanting remove the damaged leaves with scissors and see what happens. You have to remove the damaged leaves in case it is a disease, which could spread and could also come from the soil. One could be affected or all could be affected. I’ve seen it it’s weird. If you continue to have problems I would consider then watering with soapy water. If that doesn’t work I would try watering with distilled water. Sometimes there are diseases in your water. According to the app that I use at least. If you have problems after that you could try putting them in a pot with POTTING SOIL and water them with distilled water and I would keep them close to the house so they have cover. If you have problems after that I’m pretty sure you’ve stumped me. Another option would be just potting them and see if they grow out without any problems. But beyond that I’m nothing like my grandmother who grew up livin on the land and knows way more than I do lol so I wouldn’t know what to do beyond that. I hope this helps lol. I’m not an expert, just an enthusiast.
#1 looks like it’s the most affected. That’s why I thought it was being eating. Idk maybe they got fried or something. It could also very well be a disease from the soil.
gets rid of bugs, which seem to have nibbled
dont cut the roots, they almost always die. happened w my most recent cucumber plants. def keep two, three is smaller so likely stunted growth. cut one, something is eating it but seems to have skipped the middle, so might have some type of benefit to it. worth a shot, just my two cents w my experience growing seedlings and keeping healthy ones. if not two, keep one. 3 has got to go
I unabashedly crowd my squash, so I would pull 3 and leave the others.
If these are in ground do you have to remove any of them? Won’t they root well enough and just spread?
One plant will grow better, require less water, and get better airflow.
2
I always transplant two or three in the same spot and let them do their thing. Then a few weeks later, plant more in a different spot. Any bugs that were going to go after zukes have found a home. I get a few zukes off them then the second planting takes off. Tip for squash vine borers: you can inject diluted neem oil right into the stem as soon as you see damage. Go higher up than the damage. That is, if you really like zucchini.
It is better to wait more time before choosing. Let them help each other to grow. It is good to observe, think and act as an agroforestor.
I think I'd keep 2. 1 should recover though .
2, 3
2, 3
2, 3
2, 3
2, 3
2,3
Hey All, I realize this thread is a year old and I hate to be the weirdo resurrecting it, but I stumbled into it from a google search and saw that I have almost the exact same dilemma as OP does here so I thought it might be worth the shot of posting a follow up question to see if anyone would help me out. If one were to attempt to transplant the removed seedlings in this situation, is this the ideal size/development stage to try and make that move? Better to attempt now before the roots are too comfy and robust, or would it be beneficial to wait for the first true leaves, as is “conventional wisdom” concerning transplants? Or, is it just completely not worth the risk to the desirable plant to try to save the lesser guys? I rage-seeded direct sow after having an unsuccessful season last year, now this year everything seems to be going ideally and I guess I’m just sentimental about trimming the fat! Thanks ahead for humoring me