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(Best months for planting Squash in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

• Harvest in 50-60 days
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 21°C and 35°C.
• Space plants: 60-80cm

Start in individual pots then transfer when all risk of frost is past. For succession, later plantings can be straight into the ground. Fast maturing squash varieties for summer growing. Not suitable to store like pumpkins. Usually grown to pick when young and used without removing rind or seeds.

Zucchini/courgette (see under Z) is also a variety of squash

Protect from frost. Water well. Grow on well mulched, raised area. Shelter from strong winds.

A spray with a 5gm/teasp Bicarbonate of Soda in 600ml/pint of water will help slow powdery mildew when it appears.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Squash

Use whole or sliced. Steam or fry.

Your comments and tips

19 Jan 09 Clare D (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Anyone growing Rondini squash (gem squash to South Africans)? Any tips for avoiding powdery mildew?

26 Jan 09 Derek Beavis (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Cultural tips- 1. lack of soil moisture causes stress and higher prevalence of mildew. 2.In spite of this some varieties are just more susceptible. 3.If you are providing fertiliser ensure that it is not high in nitrogen- a balanced general garden fertiliser will more than suffice i.e N5.P5.K5. 4.If you grow other plants in this family ( like cucumber) watch out for mildew here also -it will spread. 5. Keep your garden as weed free as possible....sometime weeds are the vector (carrier of pests or diseases). If you do have powery mildew, spray with Lime sulphur 5ml to 1lts, spray at end of day after full sun has dissapeared. A 1ltr plastic puffer bottle is more than suitable for smaller applications, Make sure that you get good coverage of leaves. In future keep an eye out for early signs and spray immediatey. Alteratively you can carry out a preventitive programme of spraying every 2 weeks.....but if you do the other things this will be unnecesssary.

30 Jan 09 Jenny Ahrens (New Zealand - temperate climate)

I have grown 3 plants from seeds taken from store bought gems. they are very healthy - no sign of mildew (yet?) and four squash already formed on plant. I'm not sure at which stage to pick them. Currently they are dark green and about 20cm in diameter. Any comments.

09 Jul 09 nigel fanshawe (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Does any-one in NZ have some squash seed they are willing to let me have?it would be really appreciated,thanks.

23 Aug 11 Steve Law (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Does anyone know if there is a market for commercialy grown squash and who to contact. Cheers