THEY’RE rampant, yield generously, store forever and taste delicious – why wouldn’t you grow winter squashes? Here are my hints for a bumper year…
Sowing and planting
Winter squashes are part of the cucurbit family and botanically they belong to three main species: Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata and C. pepo. Like pumpkins and marrows, they can set hard skins and store well into the winter.
Many have a long growing season, needing more than 100 days from sowing to fruit maturity. Being tender, sowing outdoors early in the year isn't possible (at least 13°C/55°F soil temperature is needed), so the solution is to start them off under cover instead.
Seedlings are ready to transplant outside four-five weeks after sowing, so in the south now is a great time to begin; wait a couple of weeks more if you're in the north. Set one seed per 3½in (9cm) pot, and keep at 18-24°C (64-75°F) until well emerged, then grow on at 15-18°C (59-64°F) to transplant out in late May/ early June.
Growing essentials
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 22, 2023 من Amateur Gardening.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 22, 2023 من Amateur Gardening.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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