Growing squash
We've chosen two varieites of squash for this year's "Grow for Reading Town Meal" campaign. These are:
- Waltham Butternut from Moles Seeds
- Uchiki Kuri from Moles Seeds
Sow into seed trays or directly into pots under glass in April, May or very early June.
Grow outdoors in a sheltered place or in cold-frames. Plant outside in late May. Plant one plant for 1-2m². Harvest in autumn and store at a temperature of 10-15°C.
Download the RFGN Guide to Growing Squash (PDF format).
Waltham Butternut
This is described as a winter storage squash with pear-shaped fruits, 20-25cm long. The orange fruits have a fine nutty flavour and only a small seed cavity. The germinating temperature is 22°C.
Uchiki Kuri
This is described as a plant which forms three to five small pumpkin-like fruits of intense orange red with a golden flesh, averaging 1.5Kg. Very early to mature with superb storage characteristics. The germinating temperature is 18°C.
Related resources
Grow Your Own Vegetables
Excellent book on growing vegetables with sections on techniques, a directory of vegetables, seasonal guide to jobs, and appendices on veg for the hungry gap, successional sowing and more.
How to create a New Vegetable Garden
Charles Dowding draws on his years of experience, to show how easy it is to start a new vegetable garden. Any plot -- whether a building site, overgrown with weeds or unwanted lawn -- can be turned into a beautiful and productive vegetable area. Charles's no-nonsense and straightforward advice is the perfect starting point for the beginner or experienced gardener. The book takes you step-by-step through: * Planning and early stages * Clearing the ground * Mulch - what, why, how? * Minimizing digging * Sowing and planting across the seasons * Growing in polytunnels and greenhouses It is filled with labour-saving ideas and the techniques that Charles uses to garden so successfully, and is illustrated throughout with photos and tales from Charles's first year in his new vegetable garden.
Organic Gardening The Natural No-Dig Way
A very helpful book about growing fruit and vegetables organically and without digging.
RFGN Guide to Growing Beetroot
The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing beetroot.
RFGN Guide to Growing French Beans
The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing French beans, both climbing and dwarf.
RFGN Guide to Growing Onions
The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing onions.
RFGN Guide to Growing Radishes
The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing radishes.
RFGN Guide to Growing Salad Leaves
The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing salad leaves, including rocket.
RFGN Guide to Growing Squash
The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing squash.
Seed sowing techniques
Advice from the Royal Horticultural Society about how to sow seeds
Seed Viability Chart
Temperate Climate Permaculture's chart of seed viability times for the most common seeds used in gardens and farms