Pumpkins and butternut squash - is it too early?

[The Goatreich]

Hi,
I've just readied some pots and was about to plant some pumpkin (magical) and butternut squash (harrier) in the heated prop when I noticed on the RHS website that these should be started indoors in mid-April. The seed packet says March onwards.

Am I starting these too early? They're not in the soil yet, so it's not too late to postpone.

[Kristen]

I think its early, they grow very fast and thus become a hassle to look after, indoors, until warm enough that they can go out, but maybe you are a lot milder in Newport?

[Thelma Sanders]

I think it's too early as well.

[The Goatreich]

No problem, I'm happy to wait. Just getting the sowing bug and wanted to get them started
Thanks both.

[Thelma Sanders]

It's hard to sit on your hands at this time of year, when you've got itchy fingers, isn't it?

[darcyvuqua]

I sowed end of march last year as it was my first year the cold stumped them I think I'll be sowing end of April this year hopefully producing a bigger yield

[Two_Sheds]

The seed packet says March onwards.

It might be March in absolutely perfect conditions (warm & lots of natural daylight), but really you need to work backwards from your last frost date (the same is true for all tender (half hardy) plants, unless you have a heated greenhouse.

My last frost is late April, so I don't sow tender seeds before mid April, in the unheated greenhouse. Pumpkins need to be at "a minimum night temperature of 16C", which is probably the temp of your house indoors, but there isn't enough light indoors.

How to grow pumpkins | Thompson & Morgan

[horticultural_hobbit]

we get a frost til the end of may, so won't be sowing until mid-april-ish.