Squash

[robinaber]

I have cleared some ground of grass etc. on my plot. I skimmed the grass, put into a mound and covered it with black plastic to rot down. Would it be possible to make a cut in the plastic to grow squash?

[robinaber]

[saddad]

Yes, but not yet... I'd mix it with some muck as well... then leave it about a month then plant through under fleece.  ;D

[allaboutliverpool]

Yes it will be fine but there a a few things to be careful of.

1 Perennial weeds such as couch grass will grow through the hole.
2 Slugs will love it under the plastic.
3 The plastic can collect pockets of rainwater, which can rot the mature flowers and young fruit.

You could minimise the last problem by growing up a frame of bamboo.

Otherwise good luck.

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Other tips on:-http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_squash_butternut.html

[shirlton]

That a lovely big butternut

[Squash63]

You could do that, but I would remove the plastic before I plant the squash ( for the reasons Allaboutliverpool mentions).  I have dug 12 holes in the place I am going to grow butternuts, filled them with manure and then put the soil back on top.  I mark each one with a bamboo cane. 

I have some of those big water containers that are used in offices so I cut the bottoms off and put them over the canes so that the area warms up before planting time in June.

Which kind of squash are you going to grow?

[robinaber]

Many thanks for replies and advice. What kind of squash do you recommend that I grow as I am a complete begineer with growing this?

[ceres]

I plant squashes/pumpkins through tarps/plastic on all my compost heaps and they do very well.  I haven't found much of a problem with weeds growing through the hole -  when they get going, it's pretty hard to find the hole!  Never noticed a slug problem or rotting either.  I wouldn't remove the plastic as the weeds would definitely take hold then.

[Squash63]

Many thanks for replies and advice. What kind of squash do you recommend that I grow as I am a complete begineer with growing this?

Difficult to recommend just one variety to grow because it's a matter of taste. I grow many different ones every year but always grow butternuts.

Butternuts are good, keep well and seed is easily available in shops. I start mine off in the greenhouse (sunny windowsill if you don't have a greenhouse) in May and plant them outside in June when the weather has warmed up a bit.   Sometimes Butternuts can be a bit slow to get going but once they start they usually do well.  The first year I grew them I got over 80 big squash from just a few plants. 


You can also grow squash upwards instead of on the ground but you need a strong frame to do this.

[saddad]

I'd choose Etampes (Vif rouge d') and Crown Prince for winter eating...
  ;D

[pigeonseed]

summer squash are satisfying, because they produce lots.

for winter squash i've grown marina di chioggia, on recommendation, it was extremely tasty, but you don't get many fruit per plant.

i'm trying red kuri as well this year. i'm looking forward to growing squash more than any other veg - don't know why!