I'm having a go at squashes this year. I've tried them before at home without much success but I'm hoping that the soil at the allotment will be rich enough for them to do well. While the raised beds at home don't have particularly good soil, the allotment is another matter. Before I took it over last July, the same man had had it for some 45 years. He'd won awards for it and it was always pointed out on the open day as a plot to go and have a look at. By the time I took it over it hadn't been touched for a while, but the soil is lovely, dark and rich, and the few courgettes I planted last year did really well.
I've put some seeds in; I do love squash seeds, they're so big and user-friendly, and the seedlings are chunky and healthy looking right from the start. I'm growing three varieties, Hasta la Pasta (a spaghetti squash), Potimarron and Red Kuri, although I'm not sure the latter will germinate as they are just out of date.
Apparently squash seedlings hate the cold and shouldn't go outside into the ground until early June. They like a sheltered spot and lots of manure. So a little fussy then. I've tried them twice in containers before; the first year I decided to cut off a second stem which didn't have any fruit on it as it was straggly and battered. In a moment of ridiculous inattention I cut through the stem with the squashes on it. Couldn't believe how stupid I'd been. The next year I remembered doing that and took much more care. And somehow did exactly the same thing again. Really. I just sat on the ground staring at it in disbelief. Stupid taken to a whole new level. I'll be far more careful this year...
I'll leave you with one of my favourite quotes on my favourite mug. Enjoy it while you can, as I'm quite clumsy so mugs don't last long in this house. Are you sensing a theme..?
Ooh... looking forward to seeing how your squash get on this year! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI occasionally grow a pumpkin or squash plant just for fun if there's room on the plot. Good luck with yours, and fingers crossed that you don't have a mishap with the scissors this year!
ReplyDeleteI like the mug! Flighty xx
I shall concentrate very hard this time.
DeleteI haven't had much luck with squash in the past either, but I'm giving them a go again this year. The patty pan types seem quite prolific so I shall be trying them along with some winter squash. Hope we both have more success than we have in the past.
ReplyDeleteYes, let's hope so. I would be interested to know how the patty pans turn out.
DeleteThanks for recommending that book! It sounds like something I'd enjoy and I'm happy to hear it's not a bad read. I could just see myself loosing interest in most other informational gardening books if they weren't aesthetically pleasing and concise. I'm reading "This Life is in Your Hands" right now. It's not totally meant to be a gardening book, but it's a story about a family who lived off the land and sold vegetables from their garden. Not the best book I've ever read, but it's interesting and has some gardening information I had no idea about (although, I'm definitely a rookie). Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe Sarah Raven book is a thing of beauty! I was initially put off by a review which said it was unrealistic as her garden is so gorgeous, but actually there is so much useful information in there I wish I'd bought it years ago. It is my first point of reference for almost everything vegetable related. I wish she would write a fruit book too.
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