Growing vegetables: Squashes, pumpkins and gourds

Growing Vegetables: Squashes, Pumpkins & Gourds

The Different Squashes

Squashes, pumpkins and gourds are all members of the cucurbit family. Gourds are generally grown for decorative purposes. Some can be eaten, but they aren't as tasty as squashes and pumpkins.

Summer and Winter Squash

Courgettes are also a member of the cucurbit family and are considered summer squash. Winter squashes, on the other hand, are the pumpkins and squashes that grow throughout the summer and are then harvested in the winter.

Unlike summer squash, many winter squashes can be stored over the winter months, thus prolonging their season.

Sowing Squash

We sow our squashes in the middle of May and plant them out a few weeks later. As long as the weather is warm enough, cucurbits germinate very quickly and grow into sturdy plants. Like cabbages though, squashes need a lot of space, especially the trailing varieties that we grow here. We plant our squashes about half a metre apart and give them lots of water in the early stages of their growth to ensure that the fruits set. Squashes can be a bit of a gamble to grow in the UK though. If we have a cool August or a wet autumn, they won't be as tasty as they would be after a hot summer. If the weather is right though, you can grow a field full of delicious squash without too much difficulty.

How Do You Know That They're Ready?

Knowing what your finished squash is meant to look like will really help you to identify when it is ready to harvest. Another key indicator though is when the stalks of the plants have turned brown and straw like.

Don't worry if the leaves of your squash plants start to develop dusty mildew later in their growing season; while it may look worrying, the mildew doesn't actually penetrate the plant, it just lives on the surface.

If your squash is a yellow variety, wait until the whole squash has turned from green to yellow before harvesting.

It's best to harvest squashes as soon as they're ready. If you leave them outside and wet weather comes, the squashes can begin to rot in situ or get discolouration on their skins.

Once harvested, clean and dry your squashes and then rub a little bit of sunflower oil into the skins, which will help to protect them.

Curing Your Squashes

We cure our squashes in the same way we cure our onions: by laying them on slats in the greenhouse. This gives them the chance to dry out and helps the skins to firm up.

Once they've dried out, store your squashes in a cool and dark space, with lots of good air circulation around them.

What to Grow

If you're considering growing pumpkins and squashes, then bear in mind that they're heavy feeders so require good soil and lots of space.

If you only have a small area, then consider growing them up a trellis or even along a balcony. You can also get bush varieties, which grow in a similar way to courgettes.