This year during lockdown I decided to grow Squash. I have not grown Squash before but thought it might be beneficial as they keep for 3 – 6 months once harvested and that would see us over winter with some wholesome filling food. Also the Uchiki Kuri squash is orange like a pumpkin so we hope that we might have one for Halloween for our daughter to decorate.

I sowed the squash seeds on 20 April, one seed per pot. I sowed 3 seeds per variety. I am growing Uchiki Kuri which means red onion.

Uchiki Kuri squash

Also know as the red onion squash and grows up to 1.5kg per squash. It stores for up to 3 months. It has a red/orange skin and orange flesh and has a lovely nutty flavour to the flesh. It is a climber or rambler over beds.

Here’s a recap of How to Grow Squash

1. Sow – 1 seed per 9cm pot.

2. Grow – Plant out when 4 leaves appear. Leave plenty of room around the squash plant so it can ramble across your beds.

3. Harvest – Use Secateurs to cut the stem of the squash nearest the vine and store on a windowsill or in a vegetable basket so air can circulate around the vegetable.

This is my squash monster and my very first red onion squash!

Once it starts to ramble, it won’t stop, its gone across our lawn and sprouted a side shoot. Two more squashes have appeared on this rambling beauty.

The vine needed cutting in October (just in time for Halloween) to stop producing more fruits and concentrate on the fruits swelling which are left on the vine.

One to grow for the kids

Squash is definitely one vegetable to grow with children, my 2 year old loves looking under the giant leaves to check whether there is a squash growing or not. It keeps them involved in the growing process. My little one is not however impressed that it is taking over our garden as that’s her toddling and running space!

---

The Squash Series

• Growing Butternut Squashes in a Large Patio Pot & Harvesting Top Tips
• August Harvest – Yellow Petty Pan Squash