sowing courgettes and cucumbers

[HelloMist]

Hi, I'm new to cucumbers and have only grown courgettes once or twice a long time ago.

I'm already growing flowers, peppers and tomatoes on my windowsill and am running out of space! Will courgettes and cucumbers stand a better chance started inside? Or would they do equally well sown outdoors in (late?) May? Thinking would need frost/wind protection as well as trying to stop slugs and snails getting them while they are small. Thanks.

Theoretically you could start them outside later on, but I prefer to do mine indoors because a) I can't resist and b) then I can do enough to have replacements for when the inevitable outdoor losses leave me with spaces.

Thank you @LadyGardenersQuestionTime . It will be more fun being able to watch progress and keep watered etc. Will have to think how I can make room for more pots though! I do have a plastic greenhouse but think it would be too cold there.

Ideally start soonish inside, but it'd still work to wait a month and do it outside- only sow in the ground if its weed and slug free, otherwise in a pot. Cucumbers are more tender than courgettes so if you are going to try one in the mini greenhouse make ut the courgettes! In all honesty people are bound to be giving away courgettes seedlings soon anyway so I'd always prioritise cucumbers (especially as most kids far prefer them!)

@napody thank you!

Maybe try cucamelons.

A bastard snail ate all my courgette plants last night, in the greenhouse. Definitely start them off inside on your windowsill if you’ve got space! It ignored my cucumbers.

@VenusClapTrap oh no! Glad the cucumbers are OK though. Will you start new ones? I did see lots of snails last night. They were gathering round my small echinops, but it looked ok this morning.

I started 1 courgette inside, but it's really leggy. Hopefully will be able to bury it deeper once it goes out. Last year one got wind damaged and didn't make it. I've also started courgettes and cucumbers in a lidded container outside, just one pot each for now. They are slower but I'm hoping they will get more light and be protected from the worst of the cold until a bit bigger. Will see how that goes.

It seems a bit late to start again. I might buy some young plants from a plant sale if I come across any.

I’ve been boiling garlic today to make anti-snail juice 🐌