squash

[Salina]

I started some squash's from seed, and planted them out in the garden (clay soil) when they were a bit bigger, they haven't really grown much at all since, and I was wondering if they are ever going to produce squash's?
I planted them during the summer. I also kept 1 plant in a pot and that isn't thriving either! do they need to be somewhere warmer?
Help! lol!

[scared55]

We had an absolute mass appear last year that we had not sown - the seeds must have been dormat in the soil until we first put a fork to it in mid June.

This year, about April (didn't have recording tools we are using now) we planted some seeds taken from last year's crop. Again, very fruitful. I am looking at eight whoppers in the kitchen now!

Don't know if that is a help - our summer has been as bad as yours and, at nearly 2000' altitude, hot is hot and cold is cold!

KK

[rustylady]

If they haven't produced any fruit yet, you probably won't get any this year. I have one tiny butternut and the courgettes have been pathetic. I blame the weather cos last year's crops were great.

[Salina]

yeah, I got some courgettes as well, VERY small, but very tasty too, so not all bad lol!
maybe the squash's will fruit next spring? *shrug*

[Alice]

Salina, squash want a long hot summer. You have to get them started early. This summer (what ? when?) has not been of the best. If your squash are not ready now there's little liklihood of them making it. Mine have not been as good as last year when the weather was much better but did get some on a very sunny south facing terrace.
Good luck for next year.

[Salina]

would it be possible for them to survive this winter and do their growing next summer? probably not but where there's (a bit of) life theres hope I suppose lol.

[Peter]

would it be possible for them to survive this winter and do their growing next summer? probably not but where there's (a bit of) life theres hope I suppose lol.

Squash are a fragile sappy plant and melt at the first sign of frost, the plant not the fruit btw.

[Alice]

would it be possible for them to survive this winter and do their growing next summer? probably not but where there's (a bit of) life theres hope I suppose lol.

Salina, there's no chance your squash are going to make it through the winter. Sorry.
Wait until spring, sow and plant out after all danger of frost. They are quite tender and need to be carefully hardened off (I use fleece to start with) before planting out.
Good luck with the project.

[Salina]

It probably wasn't the best thing to shove them in the cold, soggy clay then. ah well, will have to try and try again lol. thanks for the advice!

[dasantillo]

It probably wasn't the best thing to shove them in the cold, soggy clay then.

That's sort of what we did and it sort of worked... We grew them in pots, left them a bit too long so they became pot bound and then planted out in virgin clay soil plus some free compost from the council and courgettes grew well, we got a few cucumbers, a couple of squash but the butternut squashes failed and the pumpkins fruited and rotted. I'm putting it down to the poor summer and will try again next year

What I did do when planting was, before planting, build up mounds for each plant to have an irrigation channel running between them for when it got hot (but it didn't) but this could possibly have helped to keep the closest roots and planted from becoming saturated.

[bazzaboy]

Salina

Squashes are great to grow, a fun plant, but if you want to improve the crop next year you should probably spend some time before Spring improving the soil where you intend to grow them. I too suffer with cold clay soils and it really pays dividends to lighten it so the plant doesn’t have to spend all its energies trying to survive in unsympathetic ground. The good news is that clay soil is generally quite rich in nutrients, the bad news is that it sticks together which slows both root production and warming up and can become waterlogged. You don’t even have to improve the whole patch just a 2 feet square (and say min 1 foot deep) where each plant is going to be rooted. Decide soon where they’ll be placed next year (not totally disastrous if the same place as this but better moved elsewhere providing it’s still a sunny spot), remember that they grow quite big so need a bit of space, and work on improving the patch(es) of soil by adding compost, manure, sharp sand (pref not builders) even shredded paper so that each rooting patch becomes much less sticky clay and more “friable” (crumbly) soil. The test next Spring will be to pick up a handful of damp soil and squeeze it quite hard, then open your hand – if it stays in one lump it’s still too clay, if it crumbles it’s probably just right. Planted into this “just right” soil (once all threat of frosts has passed and keep watered and mulched as they’re quite greedy feeders…) they’ll think this is a bit of alright and put all their energies into producing large leaves (good at smothering weeds) loopy vines and hey presto, squashes….

bb

ps do the same for your courgettes, you'll be amazed at the difference!

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