I've created a monster!

Well here I am, standing (well really sitting) in front of you all with my first newbie SFG oopsie, and I could really use some advice!

I have definitely over crowded one of my 4x4's by not doing enough research about the particular plant I was growing, and now I need to move some stuff around. What needs to come out of the box are 2 black beauty zuc's that have been in there since the end of April (went in as transplants), but I wasn't sure if it's been too long and if the move would do them in. Not sure I have a choice one way or another, but I did want to know if there is a way in which to move them to best ensure their chance of survival..
They haven't grown much, both only about a foot high, they are not nearly as monsterous as my other zuc and squash, which is why I am thinking they could possibly still be moved. I don't have any other places for them in my boxes, so could I move them to large containers? If so, what size should the containers be?
I am so embarrassed by my silly boo boo, but VERY thankful I have a place like this to go to ask my for help!

And one more question, our spring turned into summer much faster than normal and my broc/cauli didn't make it in early enough to veg out before the heat hit. They're all still growing (slowly) and show no signs of bolting yet, but are also still kinda on the smaller side as well. Should I just go ahead and pull them, then start fresh for the fall crop later? Or should I leave them and see what happens? One of them is generously shaded by zucchini and growing beans, and gets good late day sun. Is it totally unrealistic to think they'll produce any heads this late in the game? Would it be possible for them to produce something in the fall if I kept any flowers cut back and mulched around it to keep the soil cool?

Okay so that was much more than one question, but I do thank you all for reading and imparting your wisdom on me!

I don't think it is too late for the cabbage to grow. I just cut a big one today. It grew a lot in the last week and 1/2. And I am further South than you.

I think that moving the zukes would do them in but that's my opinion. Can you train them out of the box?

cheyannarach wrote:I think that moving the zukes would do them in but that's my opinion. Can you train them out of the box?

Or up a pole or trellis?

Well the issue with the zukes are that they aren't thriving, they others that they're sharing a box with are doing very well and these two are just staying so little. Not to mention that it's only a matter of time before they are completely shaded out by the others because they didn't grow at the same rate.

this is just my opinion and is not backed up (to my knowledge) by any research.

whenever i have a struggling plant, i transplant it to what i call the hospital, and replace it with something else. what i replace it with depends on the season and what i have ready for transplant or seeding.

the hospital allows me to baby the plant back to health. i give it nutritious soil but just like with a human baby i give it very weak, modest supplements (compost tea, mainly, but other supplements if needed). depending on the plant and the season, i give it moderate shade or full sunlight. i make sure it is protected from wind and rain damage, i make sure it gets plenty of fresh air, and i talk soothingly to it to reassure it that everything is going to be ok.

so far, out of hundreds of plants started from seed this year, i've lost only two. but i've hospitalized about a dozen using the above method. the two i lost were not in the hospital, they were in the ground.

You don't lose anything by transplanting them to a better location. 2 gallon container would be my guess........... zuke have bigger leaves than root systems.

Keep the cole crops going. It may still produce this summer and it will perk up with the fall and produce more. Cabbage will set 4 or more side heads if given time after the main head is cut. Broccoli does this as well but you need to prune it of some smaller branches for it to make heads of any size. Broccoli sprouts that look like rabe are really tasty soft stem and all. Don't be put off by small heads.

So, Rowena, what and where id miraculous hospital? I think I need it right now. I sliced my finger tip open.
Lee

I have my zucchini in a cement mixing tub (32"x20"x8") because I didn't want to give up that much space in my SFG beds. So far, it's doing well and is flowering! I just drilled a ton of holes in the bottom of the tub before I filled it with soil, and it's propped up off the ground to help with drainage.

All I'm saying is some plants don't transfer well... like squash.

I have been successful growing broccoli into Summer. I give each plant a very good soaking every other day. I also have a layer of straw mulch to keep the soil from drying out too quickly. You could use other mulches. I do not trim anything off the plant. I get the main head and as I cut that off, I am already seeing side shoots. The trick with cutting the main head and side shoots is to catch them before they start getting loose. The heads should be like a firm mound. If they start getting loose, you probably have a few days before they start producing yellow flowers. I have cut off the parts that have flowers and used the rest. I don't think it tastes as good as before it started flowering, but I didn't want to waste it. I have cooked up some broccoli that had some flowers just starting and the flowers didn't really have much of a flavor. I didn't have an adverse reaction so I guess it was ok to eat it, just wasn't as tasty.

I cooked some broccoli up for company one year and it was gone before I had any. Boy was I disappointed (even a bit annoyed) but a little proud of my accomplishment. Since then I plant 24 plants. I steam cooked some up several days ago that was freshly harvested and it was such a beautiful deep green and tasted so wonderful! I think I finally harvested that time at exactly the right time. I had never tried the leaves before and a few small ones were on the bunch so I tried it and it was so wonderful. It tasted like an artichoke. I may try steaming the bigger leaves once I am done harvesting all the side shoots. I don't want to pick those too soon because I think they may be needed to shade the heads and sprouts. Maybe someone else will know if the bigger leaves are good to cook.

My plants get morning shade so they don't get as many hours of heat as the other parts of my garden. We were having mild Spring days here and then it finally heated up to the 80-90. I had been watering about every three days and had looked out at my garden at 2-1/2 days and saw all of my plants wilted and almost laying completely on the ground. I sprayed all of them with a sprayer attachment to cool them off and gave each a few seconds of water to help perk them up and then went and soaked each broccoli plant. By the time I had watered the rest of my beds and plants, the broccoli and the rest of my garden had perked up. I was so glad I hadn't ignored my garden til the next day!

Wow, thanks everyone for the great advice! Although it looks as though I may not have to worry too much longer about either of the strong going squash/zukes, the svb's are getting the better of them already
Now I'm wondering whether I should just go ahead and pull them to give the little ones a chance or wait until they actually wilt..? I sowed some butternut this morning and have some yellow acorn seed I can also sow, which will hopefully have a fighting chance against these scummy svb's by the time they come up and flower.
As for the cauli/broc, well we've have a little bit wetter and cooler temps the past few days, so they all look very happy and are growing away so in they will stay!