How to Grow Squash
Cucurbita maxima
When to Start
Start seeds indoors 4 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant outdoors once night temperatures stay above 10°C and soil has warmed to at least 12°C.
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Growth Stages
Approximate days from start
Care Essentials
- High-potash liquid feed weekly once fruits form. Rich soil with plenty of compost.
- Winter squash stores for months in a cool, dry place. Cure in sun for 10 days after harvest.
Companion Planting
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Growing Conditions
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- Sow indoors
- —
- Transplant out
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- First harvest
- —
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Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 90 cm |
| Row spacing | 120 cm |
| Sow depth | 2.5 cm |
| Mature height | 60 cm |
| Mature spread | 180 cm |
Refers to winter squash with vining habits (e.g., Butternut). Summer squash (Courgette/Zucchini) is bushy. Check if variety is bush or vining type.
Care Guide
- Feeding
- High-potash liquid feed weekly once fruits form. Rich soil with plenty of compost.
- Watch for
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- Powdery mildew
- Slugs
- Grey mould
- Cucumber mosaic virus
Pests & Diseases
Pest Slugs and Snails
Identification: Large irregular holes in leaves; slime trails; hollowed-out seedlings; damage to fruit skin where it contacts damp ground
- Apply organic slug pellets (ferric phosphate based) around young plants
- Place developing fruits on tiles, straw, or boards to lift them off wet soil
- Hand-pick slugs at dusk; use beer traps
- Apply ferric phosphate slug pellets around plants
Pest Aphids
Identification: Clusters of green or black insects on growing tips and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew; curled or distorted young leaves
- Blast off with a strong jet of water
- Spray with insecticidal soap
- Encourage ladybirds and hoverflies as natural predators
- Spray with a contact insecticide containing pyrethrins
Pest Red Spider Mite
Identification: Fine stippling on upper leaf surfaces; leaves turn bronze and dry; fine webbing visible between leaves in severe cases
- Mist plants regularly to raise humidity
- Introduce the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis under cover
- Spray with insecticidal soap
- Spray with a miticide or fatty acid-based product
Disease Powdery Mildew Podosphaera xanthii
Symptoms: White, powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces spreading to stems; leaves yellow and die back prematurely; reduced fruit quality
Treatment: Remove badly affected leaves; spray with a sulphur-based fungicide or potassium bicarbonate solution
Prevention: Space plants widely for good airflow; water at the base; avoid overhead watering; choose resistant varieties
Disease Grey Mould (Botrytis) Botrytis cinerea
Symptoms: Fuzzy grey mould on flowers, fruit, and damaged stems; soft, brown rotting patches on developing fruits
Treatment: Remove affected plant parts immediately; improve air circulation; avoid wetting foliage
Prevention: Place fruits on dry surfaces; remove spent flowers; ensure good ventilation around plants
Disease Cucumber Mosaic Virus Cucumber mosaic virus
Symptoms: Mottled, distorted leaves with yellow-green mosaic patterns; stunted growth; misshapen, warty fruits
Treatment: No cure — remove and destroy infected plants to prevent spread
Prevention: Control aphids which spread the virus; remove weeds that harbour it; wash hands and tools between plants
Growing Conditions
| Min. soil temperature | 12°C |
| Germination temperature | 20–28°C |
| Base growth temperature | 10°C |
| Min. daylength to start | 10h |
| Photoperiod sensitivity | day neutral |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How far apart should I plant Squash?
- Plant Squash 90cm apart with 120cm between rows.
- When can I harvest Squash?
- Squash is ready to harvest approximately 90 days after transplanting.
- Is Squash frost hardy?
- Squash is classified as Tender.
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