A single squash or pumpkin plant can sprawl across several square metres, so it repays a bit of forward planning on space.
Squash and pumpkins are vigorous, sprawling plants that need real space, and most varieties benefit from curing in the sun for a week after harvest to toughen the skin for storage. Keeping developing fruit off damp soil, on a tile or board, helps prevent rot and keeps slugs away.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | Sow in April | Sow in May | ||||||||||
| Plant | Plant in June | |||||||||||
| Harvest | Harvest in September | Harvest in October | ||||||||||
| Job | Job in July | Job in August | Job in September |
Care details
- Sow April – May
Sow indoors in individual pots — they hate root disturbance.
- Plant In June
Plant out once frost risk has passed, giving each plant plenty of room.
- Job July – September
Slip a tile or board under developing fruit to keep it off damp soil and away from slugs.
- Harvest September – October
Cut with a long stalk once the skin resists a thumbnail, then cure in the sun for a week before storing.
Growing tips & common problems
- Give each plant a genuinely generous area — cramped plants produce fewer, smaller fruit.
- Slip a tile or piece of board under developing fruit to keep it off damp soil.
- Cure fruit in a warm, sunny spot for a week or two after harvest to toughen the skin for storage.
Grows well with
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