Topic: How are everyones squashes doing

[kt.]

Still have about a third more butternuts on the vine.

Last year was my first with squash.  Avalon and Harrier butternut,  Cinderella Coach pumpkin.  Got 3 pumpkin from 2 plants which was not bad for a first year. From my  butternut squash I had three from 10 plants.  All were about the size of an orange :( 

I have Harrier and Avalon to try again next year.  If they fail then i think i'll give up the ghost with BS

[Squash64]

SMILE, MY PRETTIES.



Still have about a third more butternuts on the vine.

Wonderful!
How many plants did you have? 

[shirlton]

How many plants did you have?  
Thats what I was going to ask. Mine will look pathetic up against yours Grannie Annie,

[GrannieAnnie]

 23  ??? winter squash plants but I lost count and just kept putting seeds in any spot in the backyard where one might grow. We have such hot weather and that's what they love. Some had black plastic under them which does a good job of heating up the soil early as you know. A good bit of manure in each hole does wonders for growth.

Some were interplanted amongst raspberries and did well. Some under part shade of evergreens and did well.
These were picked earlier than I'd like, many with green stems because, the leaves were dead.

I give you in the UK great credit for attempting them since your weather can be highly variable. But you always seem up for a challenge!

[Squash64]

GA, do you sow the seeds directly outdoors?

[GrannieAnnie]

GA, do you sow the seeds directly outdoors?

1066 gave me Crown Prince and Queensland Blue seeds which were sown inside since I didn't want to risk them being eaten.
The butternuts and some other types were seeded directly outside.This is in the USA remember-hot,hot, hot weather.

[GrannieAnnie]

One key learning this year:

the Crown Prince had only produced one huge squash for the longest time. I'd buried parts of the long stems under compost to help it grow extra roots.  I think that is why it suddenly produced three more squashes.  Next years plan:

O    mound up soil over stems
O    more manure in holes

[Squash64]

The butternuts and some other types were seeded directly outside.This is in the USA remember-hot,hot, hot weather.

When do you sow them?  I suppose they get a much longer season than ours do here.  Mine are sown indoors in May and planted out in June.
What's your weather like today?

[GrannieAnnie]

The butternuts and some other types were seeded directly outside.This is in the USA remember-hot,hot, hot weather.

When do you sow them?  I suppose they get a much longer season than ours do here.  Mine are sown indoors in May and planted out in June.
What's your weather like today?

The plants were put outside April 25 with protection. By June 9 the runners were 10 ft long. By July 31 there were 122 squash on the vines. I didn't write the dates the seeds were planted out ::) ::) My record keeping has gaps like the Grand Canyon.
Today is supposed to get to 81 F- breezy with blue sky- nice weather. Still wearing shorts.

[shirlton]

I planted mine a lot earlier this year and potted them on into bigger pots so they were quite big when they went outside and they have done so much better than sowing them later

[GrannieAnnie]

I planted mine a lot earlier this year and potted them on into bigger pots so they were quite big when they went outside and they have done so much better than sowing them later

Have you ever tried black plastic under them?

[earlypea]

1066 -  I'm wondering what was the source of your Delicata seeds?  I appear to have a mutant; a few decent squashes on one plant.  But, they all start out stripy and delicata looking and then turn into very darkest green ridged large courgettes.  I'd be intrigued to know what it might have crossed with  :)

[1066]

Right that's it - I'm moving to Delaware! Still sunny and warm in September and loads of snow in Winter. Perfect!! I have my own ski stuff and loads of seeds to swap  ;D
Come on budge up GA and make room for a little one  :)

Earlypea - hmmmmmm, they came from Real Seeds ............ have you got a picture? Maybe we could demand a refund  ::) And now I'm trying to remember what I grew last year, will have to dig out some photos and see if we can find it's cousin!

And on the direct sowing - a guy on our plot does this, and reckons he gets better results that way - I'm not sure, cos the slugs and snails just love those baby leaves....

1066 "started on the packing already emoticon"  ;D

[shirlton]

Used a red kuri yesterday. Squash gave me the plant. It only had one fruit on it but  was very nice.

[earlypea]

Earlypea - hmmmmmm, they came from Real Seeds ............ have you got a picture? Maybe we could demand a refund  ::) And now I'm trying to remember what I grew last year, will have to dig out some photos and see if we can find it's cousin!

I'll take one - it has a very dark, green, thick rind, like an acorn maybe.

That's quite a high proportion of accidents with Realseeds' squashes for me now - maybe they need to fine tune their seed saving technique.  Had a hell of a time germinating their white pattipan last year, got one out of a whole packet (thought it must have been me, as a beginner), their crookneck has a poor rate too and then I got a cross out of it.

[shirlton]

Here are some of my butternut squash waiting to go buff coloured. They are Waltham from real seeds and are the best we have ever grown. They didn't eat my fruit trees either ;D

[GrannieAnnie]

very healthy looking plants, Shirlton, and they even have leaves! Ours look terrible now.

[1066]

Shirl - you must be a proud mum!!!

[shirlton]

very healthy looking plants, Shirlton, and they even have leaves! Ours look terrible now.

I have cut a lot of the leaves off to let the sunshine in that is if we get any more

[Mortality]

I have cut a lot of the leaves off to let the sunshine in that is if we get any more

Whats best to do cut them down or let them die down?
I still have one on the plant that needs to ripen up more.



This is what the one that I have already harvested looks like.
It was grown from saved seed from a commercial butternut squash, fingers crossed for the taste test.