New to this! SWEET DUMPLING SQUASHES, question!

[FalconRich]

Hello All!

I have never grown anything before in life (im 21) :0 and while travelling around France last year I discovered a love for Vegetables and found a particular favorite, Sweet dumpling Squash. Not only do these look amazing but also well, it is pretty much the best thing I have ever eaten. So I swiped some seeds and bought them back to the uk (shhh) I planted about 15 a few weeks ago and today I can finally see shoots!! Hooray for no longer just watering soil! Now I'm thinking about applying for an allotment next year and really going whole hog. I have borrowed some books on Growing Organic Vegetables and have just started "Organic Garden Basics" By Bob Flowerdew. I know some of you are thinking "Read the bloody books first" But I thought I would use my queries also as an excuse to introduce myself. My First question is can I get good seeds anywhere or are there "rubbish" sites and places and recommended places? Because at the moment (me knowing nothing) a seed is just a seed but thats something hopefully the books will teach me isn't quite true. So where are the good places to get seeds? Anybody know any good sites? Second question is what is the best set up for a beginner? Which crops (assuming I have good soil) are the best to start of with that teach me the most? How do I put together a crop plan? Is there one I can steal from the internet?

Sorry about all that rambling, I think Im just a bit too excited about my squashes.

All the best

Rich

[rustylady]

Hello Rich, welcome to the Vine. I think you've got the gardening bug

Where are you going to grow on your squash? Do you have a garden?

[Two_Sheds]

can I get good seeds anywhere

just about, yeah. I wouldn't say that there are any bad seeds, although there are plenty of poor composts (I seem to have bought most of them this year).

How do I put together a crop plan?

Simples: a crop plan is a list of what you like to eat

[Two_Sheds]

I planted about 15 a few weeks ago and today I can finally see shoots!!

The reason they took so long is you started too early, when it was cold. You're lucky you didn't lose them. Beginner's luck

Read the packet ! Ah, you say, there wasn't one because you nicked them.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Rich and welcome. The best way to start is by growing something that you like to eat - well done
If you want an allotment put your name down ASAP as in some places you won't reach the top of the waiting list until you've retired
As for buying seeds, a lot depends on what you want to grow. Places like Lidl and Wilkinsons sell very cheap seed and it grows - but its mostly common and reliable varieties. If you want more uncommon varieties then you have to shop around -and if you want organic, open pollinated seeds (not F1) so that you can save your own seeds for subsequent years, you should look at Real Seeds, Chase Organics, Heritage Seed Library - Franchi are good too.
Don't be afraid to ask questions - we enjoy answering them

[KittyColdNose]

Hello and welcome Rich.

I have bought seeds from large garden centres and Aldi/Lidle. I go with whatever I fancy. If you have a look at Real Seeds though for starters you will see the ethical side of things I love the range they have.

I am off to goggle the sweet dumpling squash now! Good luck with the gardening.

[FalconRich]

Yes I have a garden :P and a place for veg that dad has grown some things on before. Im not sure what the soil is like but Dad said it was quite hard when he tried to dig over last year. Does that matter with my squashes? Should I still try and dig it over? We have a compost bin but it doesn't look that great. Should I water it? Also can I had manure to my compost or should I whack it straight on to the patch? Is it important that I rake it in? Well I'm loving this luck but the weather was doing strange things! But I think spring is finally here (I hope)

Thanks!

[rustylady]

Sweet Dumpling squash seeds were one of the freebies with GYO a couple of months ago. Supplied by Mr Fothergills.

[KittyColdNose]

I planted out some patty pan this week, dug a hole, put lots of manure in then put the soil back and planted the squash in it.

[FalconRich]

Ahh thanks VC, I kind of forgot that if I want to be organic I need seeds from organic stock How can I be sure they are organic? Is there like a guaranteed "Organic Association" stamp on the packet if they are genuine? And what does F1 mean? and Open pollinated? Thanks cant believe how quick the replies were

[Two_Sheds]

not sure what the soil is like but Dad said it was quite hard when he tried to dig over last year. ... Should I still try and dig it over?

If your soil is hard, digging it will make it worse.
If it's like mine, just down the road from you, it is silty and "capping", which means it forms a hard crust which seeds struggle to penetrate (although weeds manage OK).

You want to be mulching it, rather than digging.
Look through the older threads, and research "no dig", if you're into organic style growing

We have a compost bin but it doesn't look that great. Should I water it?

Yes, it needs to be moist.
Decomposition bacteria require heat, moisture and food. You may want to turf all the compost out, mix it up and pile it back in again, watering between layers.

can I had manure to my compost or should I whack it straight on to the patch?

You don't need manure at all. I've never used it (although I do use pet bedding, parrot & guinea pig poo). As you can imagine, they don't "produce" as much as Orses do

[PyreneesPlot]

Hi Rich. Welcome to the vine from France - so it was you who pinched them! Squashes are addictive...

[FalconRich]

I thought digging over was a good thing to aerate the soil, allow oxygen through? or does this only apply with root crops? Great thanks! I shall try and find some time to turn the compost.

Many thanks!

[veggiechicken]

Ahh thanks VC, I kind of forgot that if I want to be organic I need seeds from organic stock How can I be sure they are organic? Is there like a guaranteed "Organic Association" stamp on the packet if they are genuine? And what does F1 mean? and Open pollinated?

This may help you with Organic seed suppliers Top 10... organic seed suppliers - Green Living - The Ecologist
F1 seeds are Hybrids. If you save seeds from them they will not grow true the following year. Read this Why grow Real Vegetable Seed?

[Two_Sheds]

I thought digging over was a good thing to aerate the soil, allow oxygen through?

Worms and other organisms aerate the soil for you. If you leave plant roots in the soil, they rot down, enriching the soil and then leave gaps in the soil (aeration). Digging destroys worm tunnels, it collapses the soil structure and disturbs the millions of soil organisms that are working the soil for you.

This explains it better than I can. The author, an ancient Japanese farmer, doesn't dig, use fertiliser nor compost. He just "chops and drops" his old crop leftovers, and produces yields equal to those on conventional (dug, fertilised) farms. http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Straw-Re...raw+revolution

Gardeners and farmers are addicted to digging/ploughing. If you think about it, forests manage to grow tall, and produce nuts/fruit, without any digging at all.