otatop
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winter squash questionMy winter squash plants (grown in containers) have loads of potential fruits which all look very healthy and viable. Should I thin them out - and by how much?
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cab
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Re: winter squash questionDepends on the variety. If its, say, one of the great big 'sweet potato' squashes that'll produce 10lb fruit then maybe, if you're looking at little acorn types, then no.
What varieties have you got.
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otatop
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They're "sweet dumpling". About 4" across. I grew them last year for the first time, but only achieved about 1 per plant. My summer squash last year was almost a total failure as well.
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sean
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Judith has grown sweet dumpling with some success I think. She probably won't be around until Monday though.
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Sarah D
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I stop my Sweet Dumpling at 6, usually.
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TAVASCAROW
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Once they get to an eating size cut them off & let them ripen on the greenhouse staging.
I do this with pumpkins cause I don't want giants, as soon as they are lantern size I cut them, even if they are green.
A few weeks in the polytunnel & they colour up & keep for months as long as they aren't bruised.
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wellington womble
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Does Sweet Dumpling really taste of parsnip? Himself doesn't like parsnip, so I've never grown it.
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otatop
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I only grew them for the first time last year. I don't know about parsnip taste - I scooped out the seeds, filled them with cream and cheese, and baked them. Totally yummy - and a good quick meal to prepare on return from work.
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Sarah D
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| wellington womble wrote: | | Does Sweet Dumpling really taste of parsnip? Himself doesn't like parsnip, so I've never grown it. |
No, they taste of squash. Never heard that before. One of the best to grow for small size, taste and appearance. Mine always go on the rotting down compost heaps and do well there.
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Slim
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| otatop wrote: | | I grew them last year for the first time, but only achieved about 1 per plant. My summer squash last year was almost a total failure as well. |
I'd let them fruit as much as they want, even if you hadn't proffered the above information...   
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James
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I'd also let them fruit as much as they want. You wont win prizes for size, but you're likely to get a larger yield overall.
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cab
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The little ones I allow to fruit as long and as much as they want to, or at least until I run out of space.
If you struggle with sweet dumpling again, I'd go for a different variety next time. Similar, but in my view tastier (although just a little bigger) is 'Celebration F1'. Got eleven decent sized squashes on one of those two years ago, even last year from two plants got a good fifteen or so. General rule is you can't over feed them; plant in a good couple of bucket loads of dug in well rotted muck, and mulch with more of the same.
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judith
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My favourite winter squash. If it's happy, don't even think of stopping it - you will get loads.
Let it blossom, let it grow.
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jocorless
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All my squashes (winter and summer) are really sulking this year despite being in almost ideal conditions - rich, well manured soil that gets lots of moisture but not too much - they are only just starting to grow properly - granted I did get them in late but I thought they would just romp away
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judith
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Mine are all sulking too - even the ones on the south-facing, black landscaping fabric-covered squash slope.
I'm hoping that they will take off this week if the promised sun actually appears.
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cab
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Oh, they'll be fine. They (almost) always seem to sulk till late July. Thats why I always suggest to people that theres no rush getting them in early, that just gives the slugs longer to ruin them
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katie
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[quThats why I always suggest to people that theres no rush getting them in early, that just gives the slugs longer to ruin them [/quote]
Well, I can vouch for the truth of THAT comment! Next year I shall start later with courgettes and not put them out until the plants are tough and huge.
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cab
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| katie wrote: | | [quThats why I always suggest to people that theres no rush getting them in early, that just gives the slugs longer to ruin them |
Well, I can vouch for the truth of THAT comment! Next year I shall start later with courgettes and not put them out until the plants are tough and huge.[/quote]
I wouldn't go THAT far
I like to get them out when they've got an adult leaf and they're about to put on their first growth spurt. That means sowing in pots relatively late; late May seems okay for the squashes, a little earlier for the courgettes.
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