Planting Pumpkins & Squash

We’re planting out the pumpkins and squashes that I’ve grown in pots in the sheltered environment of the greenhouse. They take up a lot of space as they need a fair bit of foliage to power the plants’ production but I’m lucky in that’s not a problem for me.

Squash Crown Prince

Squash Crown Prince – growing through weed matting in 2019

What is a problem is that whilst they grow they don’t cover much of the large area that they’ll take up when mature. This allows the weeds to get a hold and keeping them back takes valuable time. They’re also a bit fragile and a slip with the hoe near the stem can be fatal.

Weed Matting

The method I use is to grow through weed matting. This cures the weed problem and provides a surface for the fruits to sit on. They’re less likely to rot through ground contact and it’s easier to control the slugs and snails.

Traditional Planting Cube Method

Two years ago I grew them this way and it worked very well despite our windy, wet conditions.

I dug out a cube roughly a foot to a side and filled that with compost whilst covering the whole area under the matting with green waste and cardboard. The squashes being planted into the compost cubes, of course.

Alternative Squash Planting Method

The following year – last year – I tried something a little different. I still grew through weed matting but I spread the compost under the matting rather than digging out cubes. With our rocky soil, digging out the cubes can be very hard work. I’m all for the easy, efficient ways to do do things.

Well the squashes did grow but not as well. It’s hard to quantify as there are other factors in play like the weather and different varieties, seeds etc. I suppose I should have done a proper trial in the same year but I’m doing this for my interest and the crop, not a research paper! My strong feeling is that the change of method was to blame.

Squash Planted Through Membrane

Improved Soil

Following harvesting, the matting was left in situ until the following spring. Then it was lifted and the soil rotavated for the potatoes. Still stony but the soil was much improved with increased levels of organic matter. The worm population is increased as well.

Traditional Method More Versatile

One of the benefits of this traditional cube method is that it can be equally applied to virgin pasture or cultivated soils. Either way, the manure/compost provides the bulk of the nutrients needed.

Pot Growing?

I suppose it would be possible to grow squashes in a large pot filled with the right compost. However, it would need a lot of care with watering as squashes need a lot of water to grow and a pot lacks the reservoir that the ground provides.

Creating Planting Holes in Matting

Making the holes in the weed membrane is easy. Note this only works with the quality heavy duty matting. It doesn’t work with the very thin mats. Start by making a template shield to prevent damage to the mat. I use some scrap plywood and cut a hole of the right size.

Place the shield onto the matting and then burn the hole. I use my flameweeder but a blowtorch would do the job. My son-in-law made this video clip of the process on his phone.

Clip of a weed burner being used to make a planting hole in weed membrane. The plywood template prevents damage around the hole.

Posted in Allotment Garden Diary
4 comments on “Planting Pumpkins & Squash
  1. Eddy Shears says:

    I have always open planted my Squashes in a hole filled with manure, spaced 1 metre apart in a block of three rows. Initial weeding isn’t a problem on the open ground, but a nightmare to control in the height of the growing season.
    Your use of planting membrane is so simple and very practical. I will be trying your method next year. Knowing my luck, I will never get the planting hole in the membrane to match the hole with the manure in. Any tips on a foolproof, idiot proof method.

  2. Trish says:

    I am growing squash for the first time ever this year. I have just got an allotment plot. I am trying several methods. One just planted in the ground. Two others planted through heavy duty weed control fabric. ( I just cut the membrane to be six feet long and 4 feet wide I cut a slit rather than using a template then stapled the slit closed around the base of the plant) I am also trying two plants trained up a trellis system. So far they all look ok. But I don’t know what normal looks like. The plants up the trellis are growing much quicker. All plants have flower heads on them. Just a waiting game now to see how many squashes I get.

    A novice first time grower

  3. Denise says:

    I was lucky to be given squash plants of many different varieties – I have planted them in big dug out spaces, one per plant on undug ground. I have sunk a plastic bottle next to each plant so they are watered underground, from the holes made in the bottles – reducing water loss. For a boost and a feed I have added comfrey leaves to each bottle.

    A few plants have been attacked by slugs but most are growing away good, with promise of a good crop.

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