Saturday 1 August 2009

growing squash


Our squash are not as far ahead as others we've seen, but we still have signs that fruit are set. Last year was a disappointing one for us with squash: our young plants were attacked by slugs and the cold wet summer never gave them chance to produce anything worth having. Of course, Mike on the next plot had a surfeit!

To ensure that the plants don't go on into the autumn setting small fruits that won't produce useful squashes, we pinch out the growing tips after three or four are set, as this on is.

Hopefully, then, we'll bet a bumper crop of squash that will keep us going in soups and as oven roasted vegetables until early spring.

2 comments:

Matron said...

That's a great photo, and thanks for reminding me to pinch out the growing tips. Shame that it is only now that lots of female flowers are appearing. It has been all male flowers up till now!

Lisa said...

I'm hoping the woodchuck(s) will stop eating the squash vine leaves enough to actually get a few tromboncino and winter squash fruits down in the satellite garden this year.

Otherwise, it's been a good year for summer squash. The borers appeared late, and weren't too bad. Good luck with yours...
Lisa