Gardening advice, please

betterbargains4u

Hi

I planted some squash (mint festival) which has produced lots of large leaves and is getting really big.
Noticed that there are now flowers appearing.
I need to know......
Do the squash grow above or below ground?
Do I need to prune them at all or take the dead flowers off?
Do the plants get very big and do I need to stake them??
Sorry to ask so many questions, but have inadvertentely thrown the seed packet away.
Thanks for any advice you can give.

demented_2

Hi, I havn't grown Squash but i do grow courgettes and they are from the same family. Courgettes grow big leaves then have flowers which then grow into courgettes. Which are on top of the soil. Squash would be the same.
Keep the plants well watered, watering at the root and not over the plant and feed when the fruit starts to swell. Hope that of some help to you.

demented_2

Oops sorry I forgot to also mention that you do not have to take off the dead flowers or prune them or even stake them. The leaves can get quite big and the plant does spread out, but i would just leave them and concentrait on watering and feeding and of course picking the squash's before they get too large and woody.

Lord_Gardener

Remember that your squash plant will produce both male and female flowers so encourage the bees to do the pollenation for you - I always have some lavenda growing nearby. Did you plant on to a little hill - with organic muck dug in? This is ideal 'cos they like good drainage but enjoy a water and feed (liquid feed after fruit starts developing). Always worth supporting fruit on straw to reduce the potential of fruit rot and try and water directly to the roots - flower pot or cut off soft drinks bottle does the trick! As demented says don't let them get too large and woody. You should have a bumper crop this season.