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Squash advice please

FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
in Fruit & veg
hi, I’m growing Burgess vine buttercup squash in a large tub and it’s romping away. As it’s in a pot am I best limiting the amount of squash that develop or should I leave it alone? If I should limit it, then how many would be best? 

Im also growing a Pacific giant pumpkin for Halloween. I assume I just let one develop? 

Should i I trim the vines in any way or just remove the female flowers?
Thanks

Posts

  • Jason-3Jason-3 Posts: 391
    Try growing it up a large vertical cane. That way it can grow more freely. With any large squash once you have 2 or 3 healthly small crops , remove flowers or small fruits to allow the plant to focus it' energy on the fruits you want.
     I do remove a little foilage that are close to the fruits to improve air ciculation and ripening 
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    Thanks Jason-3, that’s really helpful.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited June 2018
    Growing up a cane is a good idea, but I have had a problem with this approach.
    Once the fruits start to swell and get heavy there's a risk that the whole plant slips down the cane and the main stem gets crushed and that's the end of the story - I've been there :(
    I did buy a garden arch that I intended to use for squash, but I haven't got round to putting it up yet...

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Jason-3Jason-3 Posts: 391
    Old tights work well for support and I always double up the canes and tightly tie them together
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I grew mine up metal mesh "trellis" which I got from the builders' merchant (for reinforcing concrete) and it proved to be very good being both strong as well as letting the fruits get more sun up off the ground.

    This new garden has a much larger veggie plot and is sunnier so the smaller fruited squash like Utchi Kuri will be trained up the existing green metal mesh fence and the big jobs - Crown Prince and butternuts will be allowed to sprawl but will be limited to a max of 3 fruits each.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    I’ve been a bit slack this year and so disorganised, got stuff planted and out but my supports are woeful lol! It’s all been crammed into pots and a small bed as my veg plot is still under a foot of rubble!
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