How to grow squash

Growing squash for the first time

Difficulty: Easy · Sun: full sun · Ready in: about 100 days

1. Choose the spot

Pick a sunny spot (6+ hours of sun). It does best in loam soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5. Avoid sandy soil, or improve it with compost.

2. Sow or plant

Sow outdoors in May, Jun. Start indoors or under cover in Apr, May. Space plants about 120 cm apart.

3. Look after it

• Water roughly every 3 days, more in hot or dry weather. Water the soil, not the leaves.
• Feed every 14 days once it is growing strongly.
• Keep weeds down, and add a daily note and photo to your BeAgric grow diary so you can spot problems early.

4. Watch for problems

Common problems: Powdery mildew. Take a photo with Check a plant if leaves look spotted, yellow or wilted.

5. Organic tip

Cure fruit in the sun for 10 days before storing.

6. Harvest

Expect your first harvest about 100 days after planting. Record it in Harvests and list any spare on the marketplace.