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Winter Squash (trailing types) ... pinching out ...

DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
in Fruit & veg
This is my third year of growing Uchiki kuri squash .... I've been reading up on 'pinching out' and now I'm more confused than when I started ... please can someone explain clearly what to do ...
Many thanks  :D

Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





Posts

  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    I don't, I find they ripen the first few they set and anything else either falls off on it's own or just doesn't fully ripen.
    Now I have nearly unlimited space so that isn't an issue for me.
    Last year each of my squash plants (spaghetti and crown prince) set and ripened over 10 fruit each, the Uchi didn't survive the slug battering when they were planted out.
  • war garden 572war garden 572 Posts: 664
    you don't pinch out squash where you hear that old wives tail. 
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    Why not @war garden 572? Please elucidate.
  • war garden 572war garden 572 Posts: 664
    edited June 2022
    because it hurts production and makes plant vulnerable to
    pest and disease issues.  
  • scrogginscroggin Posts: 437
    Generally I wait until a couple of fruit have set and then nip out the leader, as each plant throws out numerous leaders I average 6 to 8 good size squashes. Never had a problem with disease and I find I get larger squashes this way.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Thank you @scroggin 🙏 … that’s the sort of advice I was looking for. 

    What may work well in the longer growing season in the USA isn’t always best practice in a different climate. 

    😊 



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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