How to grow beautiful squash in your vegetable garden

From golden butternut to flamboyant pumpkins and majestic pumpkins, discover the secrets of a successful crop that will transform your garden into a festival of autumn colours and flavours. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, take a look at our tips for making squash the stars of your garden.

Practical guide

When and how to sow squash?

Sowing squash requires patience and know-how. Wait until mid-April to start your first seedlings in pots under cover, at a temperature of 20°C. Place 2 to 3 seeds in each pot and keep only the most vigorous plant after emergence.

For direct sowing in the ground, wait until mid-May, once the Ice Saints have passed. The soil should be sufficiently warm, around 12-15°C. Varieties such as butternut and pumpkin particularly appreciate this method. Space your plants at least 1 metre apart to allow the runner squash to flourish fully.

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The secrets of good vegetable garden planting

The success of a generous harvest starts with the right choice of location. Your squash need soil that is rich in organic matter, well drained and exposed to full sun. Dig generous planting holes and incorporate mature compost to feed your future champions.

To protect your plants from the risk of late frost, install protective cloches for the first few weeks. A hemp straw mulch will keep them moist and avoid the daily chore of watering.

Preparing the soil for generous fruit

A rich, well-prepared soil guarantees magnificent squash. Start by loosening your soil to a depth of at least 30 cm, incorporating a generous dose of mature compost. Your cucurbits love soft, aerated soil where their roots can dip freely.

Think about creating raised beds that will warm up more quickly in spring. This technique promotes good drainage and limits the risk of rotting. Mulch with flax or hemp chaff to maintain constant humidity and gradually nourish your plants.

Space your squash plants at least 1.5 metres apart to allow them to spread out comfortably. This generous distance also promotes better air circulation, which is invaluable in preventing the appearance of powdery mildew.

When and how to harvest your squash?

Autumn adorns your squash in their most beautiful colours, heralding the long-awaited moment of harvest. Observe the stalk of each fruit: its brown tint and woody appearance signal perfect ripeness.

Get a clean pair of secateurs and cut, leaving 5 cm of stem, an essential precaution for their preservation. Sunny mornings offer the best conditions for this delicate picking.

Clean each squash with a soft brush to remove the soil, then leave them to dry for a few hours in the sun. This step strengthens their skin and prepares your cucurbits for winter. Choose a staggered harvest, starting with the fruit most exposed to frost.

The art of pumpkin pruning

Grab your pruning shears and master the growth of your cucurbits! Prune in the middle of the day, when the stems are less waterlogged. Cut above the second leaf after each fruit has formed, giving preference to the most beautiful specimens.

For spectacular pumpkins, limit yourself to 3 fruits per plant. This technique concentrates the plant’s energy on the selected fruits. Guide the main stems on sturdy stakes to facilitate air circulation and exposure to the sun.

Château et jardins du Rivau : le royaume des courges !

In a nutshell on growing squash

Sow your squash at the right time

Under cover in April or in the ground in May

Preparing rich, protected soil

Enrich, mulch and space for vigorous fruit

Pruning and care to optimise harvesting

Limit fruit and prevent disease and insect pests

Essential care at the foot of plants

At the foot of your plants, special attention is needed! Summer heat calls for generous mulching with hemp chaff 5 cm thick, creating a protective cocoon that maintains humidity.

Hand weeding around the main stems ensures competition-free growth. To stimulate fruit development, gently place a board under each squash as soon as it reaches 10 cm in diameter. This tip prevents rotting and ensures even ripening.

The squash seeds will give birth to tasty fruit if you enrich the soil with diluted nettle purin every 15 days. This natural technique strengthens your plants’ resistance to the vagaries of the weather.