This winter I shall be mostly eating....

[Pies]

Straight on the glass fibre. Never had a problem yet

[WillyNelson]

Very jealous. I've had 2 butternuts off 5 plants and 2 pumpkins off 3 plants. I'm going to have to work out what I'm doing wrong before next year.

[chris]

Straight on the glass fibre. Never had a problem yet

Interesting.. just rinse before you use? I guess you don't eat the skin? (I have before, not keen on it - bit tough).

[Pies]

Yep just a rinse. But they must be dry and skins in good condition or they wont store.

[chris]

Yeah, I just left mine in one of the spare rooms, but may try the loft next year - my wife wasn't impressed!

[Jelliebabe]

WOW = how many squash have you got there and what varieties! I've got about about four varieties and about 10! No way as good as your haul!

again WOW

[Pies]

There are 53 in the piccy plus i have given away half a dozen or so
The varieties are butternut,crown prince, spagetti squash, portmarrion, i think the dark green one os table ace (tastes very nice) and an other which im not sure of at the mo

[WillyNelson]

Did you let the plants run along the ground or support them in some way?

I think my problem in the past is that I'm getting them out too late. I guess sow March, plant out April and keep them fed and watered really well is the answer.

[Two_Sheds]

Willy, March is too early for most people. Squash grow big fast - and you can't get them outside until after your last frost (which for you is late April)

I sow mine 2-3 weeks before they go outside (early May)
The weather was against me this year: prolonged drought April/May, then really cool and wet until the end of August.

[pipkins]

Wow they look good and I thought I had done alright with my 6 x butternuts

[Nicos]

What a fantastic harvest!....I too am very envious!!!!!

(I think you should take the award of 'King of Squish')

This winter I shall be mostly eating Rat ( that's cos I can't spell ratatouille without a spell checker!!!)
I've frozen and bottled loads of variations on a theme of courgettes/onions/peppers/tomatoes/beans....my versions of 'Rat'

[taff]

Cor blimey, that's a lot fo squash. I think I've got one humungous one...and two tiny tiny butternuts
Impressive....

[WillyNelson]

Willy, March is too early for most people. Squash grow big fast - and you can't get them outside until after your last frost (which for you is late April)

I sow mine 2-3 weeks before they go outside (early May)
The weather was against me this year: prolonged drought April/May, then really cool and wet until the end of August.

Cheers TS. I should have the benefit of a proper greenhouse next year (if I ever get round to putting it together that is!) so I'll have somewhere to give them a bit of a head start. I'll plan to sow in April & plant out May, that way they should be going well by the 'summer'.

[maytreefrannie]

I tried to grow squash in two summers but they flowered but the fruit never came to anything.

Yours look brill - congratulations and enjoy.

[Pies]

Willy i dont have a proper greenhouse only a tiny thing. Its not about how early you start them you must have some protection ready for when they go out. If you start them off in a greenhouse they can get very big very fast. I' post a piccy of my improvised cloches later. I started mine early this year and got lucky. April was very warm which in the long run reduced the harvest as the squashes were confused and went into fruit production before the plant had matured.