Sowing dates for biggish and smallish winter squash

[Snoop Puss]

I've got quite a range of winter squash to sow, some varieties larger than others.

I was thinking of sowing the butternut squash directly in mid-May, when night time temperatures will be reliably above 8 ºC and daytime temperatures in the low 20s. By the time they get going, temperatures should be around 12 ºC at night. This has worked OK for me in the past and will save me space indoors and lots of toing and froing.

But it occurred to me that some of the larger varieties might need longer to fully mature and so I ought to be starting them now in pots.

What do you reckon?

[Alison]

Not sure, I find that sowing direct is pointless for me as the slugs take them when they're very small. The plants do grow very quick though so you may well be fine

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks Allison. Sorry to hear about the slugs. We have terrible trouble with snails more than slugs, but I hadn't noticed them bothering the squash.

When do you sow your squash? Do you sow your bigger varieties before your smaller ones or all at the same time.

[sparrow100]

I would normally sow my squashes at the end of this month. They sulk if they get potbound, and my plot is very exposed so I don't put them out till mid-May. I have some seeds for a giant pumpkin, and I will chance those a bit earlier this year, but I can give them extra cossetting for a while, as well as a fleeced bed to protect them from the wind a bit.

I saw T&M designated yesterday as national pumpkin sowing day, which is just bonkers given that frost dates vary so much across the country.

I don't trust this warm dry spell to last forever - but perhaps I'm just overly cautious.

[Thelma Sanders]

I would normally sow my squashes at the end of this month.

I don't trust this warm dry spell to last forever - but perhaps I'm just overly cautious.

Agree with both of these - especially weather, which now seems to be cooling for at least the next couple of weeks

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Sparrow and Thelma. Sounds like I should just hold off on all of them, then, regardless of size. That suits me. Less toing and froing of a morning and evening.

[Alison]

I sow all my squashes at the same time, the end of April

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Alison.