{"id":2454,"date":"2019-06-10T03:31:33","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T03:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2454"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:29:17","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T09:29:17","slug":"14-gardening-tips-on-growing-squash-from-seeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-gardening-tips-on-growing-squash-from-seeds\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Gardening Tips on Growing Squash From Seeds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The word \u201csquash\u201d describes a variety of pumpkins that comes in several different types ranging from butternut squash through to field pumpkins \u2013 yes, it\u2019s technically also a type of squash \u2013 and they\u2019re one of the easiest plants for even beginner gardeners to get growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re high in essential nutrients, and there are a thousand different recipes that call for the inclusion of squash. Plus, they\u2019re absolutely delicious and there\u2019s absolutely nothing better than having something on your plate that grew from your very own garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many gardeners choose to grow squash from existing plants, but they can be just as successfully grown from seeds as well \u2013 and growing from seeds can be a lot more satisfying for gardeners, although it takes a little more care and time than simply transplanting an existing plant into the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 useful gardening tips on growing squash from seeds that everyone could use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Choosing Seeds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the first things a gardener has to do when they want to plant any kind of squash is to select the variety and the seeds they intend to use. Squash isn\u2019t just squash \u2013 just like with most plants, there are several different varieties including butternut squash and banana squash \u2013 although luckily for gardeners the majority of squash varieties prefer more or less the same conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When choosing seeds, it\u2019s usually best to buy ready-packed, sealed seeds: With some types of squash you don\u2019t have a guarantee that they will germinate from seeds that you took from squash, so going with ready-packed seeds gives you more of a guarantee for successful planting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research the variety that you\u2019ve chosen well beforehand: Some types of squash can vary greatly in size, and especially for this reason it\u2019s best not to mix up the different varieties either in your garden or while seeds are in storage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Storing Squash Seeds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lot of gardeners will end up with some surplus seeds at the end of planting, and this is often the case when you\u2019ve planted an area in your garden with squash seeds. What do you do with the leftover seeds that you didn\u2019t stick in the ground this time? They should still be good for the next upcoming planting season \u2013 but this only remains true as long as the storage conditions for the seeds are right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any seeds left over from squash planting, they\u2019re best stored in the fridge in a sealed container or bag \u2013 marked clearly with the date and the type of seeds they are. Storing seeds outside of the fridge can mean that you have a highly reduced success rate, and some of the seeds might not come up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also be careful that any seeds in storage don\u2019t get compressed, or taken down to a temperature low enough to destroy the seeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Not Working? Here\u2019s Why<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve taken the seeds for planting from an actual cut up squash and attempted to germinate these, it might not always work \u2013 especially when we\u2019re talking about store-bought vegetables. This is because of the fact that a lot of what people find on the shelves has been genetically modified to the point where they won\u2019t<\/em> be able to germinate for another generation of seeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why it\u2019s recommended that you purchase seeds for your chosen form of squash either from a nursery or a reputable online company \u2013 this often has a much higher success rate when germinating seeds than trying to do it from actual squash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes it can work from harvested squash seeds, but why take the chance as a novice gardener when you can be guaranteed planting success? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Germinating Seeds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Germinating the seeds is a key phrase when you want to grow squash from seeds, and it\u2019s true that this is a whole lot easier when it\u2019s done outside of the environment in which you want the plants to grow. If anyone can remember the seeds-germinating-between-tissue-paper experiment from their school days, this is an exceptionally useful trick even when it comes to serious gardening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you allow seeds to germinate like this, it allows you to have something with substance to stick in the ground \u2013 and it ensures for a much more successful planting phase for the amateur gardener than sowing a bunch of seeds in a line and hoping that about eighty percent of them might come up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When in the ground, seeds can be vulnerable, but already-germinated ones have built up some structure that can give them more necessary strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the seeds have properly germinated, they can be transplanted into the soil \u2013 either in pots or usually directly into the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Spacing Squash<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spacing is one of the most important elements when planting, and it\u2019s often something that novice gardeners will forget to do properly \u2013 and it\u2019s especially important when you\u2019re planting squash due to the fact that there can be great variations in size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, you can consider squash plants to be larger than your average tomato or potato plant; no matter what type of squash, it\u2019s a larger type of plant that needs to be spaced at least six feet apart \u2013 if not sometimes more for larger varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re planting squash, demarcate a certain section of your garden meant only for squash-type plants, with a clear border around it \u2013 if you don\u2019t do this, then some varieties of squash plants can completely overrun the rest of your garden. If you do choose to plant squash around other plants, remember to trim the squash plants to avoid them taking over everything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Ideal Soil Conditions for Squash<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Squash plants need the ideal soil conditions in order for them to flourish, and getting this right isn\u2019t as hard as you might imagine \u2013 but it\u2019s one of the most essential factors when deciding to grow squash from seeds. Optimal soil conditions are what give the plant the right environment to start off its growth, and from there it\u2019s optimal soil conditions that will help the plant to grow for years more to come from there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideally, squash loves access to nutrient-rich soil that\u2019s well-draining and doesn\u2019t excessively trap any moisture in. Like a lot of other plants, they don\u2019t like getting their feet wet and it can lead to rot \u2013 especially at the bottom of squashes where they touch the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For happy and healthy squash plants, mix organic compost (which you can make yourself) into the garden before planting, and at least once to twice a year after this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Issues with Squash?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There aren\u2019t a lot of different pests and issues that will affect squash plants throughout the year, and this makes them a perfect choice for beginner gardeners to develop their green thumbs. Those that will affect squash plants are easy to spot and usually even easier to deal with by just making a few adjustments to the growing conditions of the plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common issues that will affect squash plants is shear stress; this can be seen by slight yellowing of the leaves, most often at the uttermost tips of the plant first. If this happens, then it\u2019s usually the first sign that your plant isn\u2019t as happy as it should be \u2013 your steps are to check the pH of the soil, add nutrients to the water (usually magnesium!) and keep monitoring conditions to see if it improves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the leaves go any other shade, including brown, the plant could be diseased and might need to be removed before it affects any of the other plants in the garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Harvesting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When to harvest from your squash plants depends on which type you\u2019ve planted in your garden. When people think of the word squash the first thing they might imagine is a summer squash, by far the most common, which is best harvested in the summer months.
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One factor that can help to separate a great gardener from an average one is the fact that a great gardener develops a natural feel for harvesting. There\u2019s no need to rely on a set schedule for harvest, just because nature might not always work that way \u2013 watch your plants, keep an eye on growth and harvest when the squash starts to change shade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there on in, once you\u2019ve harvested from your plant for the first time, you can keep it successfully going for years after this if the conditions in your garden are kept right. To do this, keep monitoring and adjusting the conditions for your plant as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Pests Affecting Your Crop
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Squash growers need to remain vigilant on their lookout for pests and disease affecting the health of the crop. Insects help with pollination of your garden, but they also cause a severe amount of destruction as well. Squash pests include the likes of vine borers that borrow into the lower stems of the plant, causing the plant to fail and rot. One of the classic signs of borer infection is wilting leaves.
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Squash plants are also susceptible to the same bugs and caterpillars that chew on cucumber leaves. Caterpillars spread quickly through your crop, and if you notice one caterpillar munching on a leaf, then you can be assured that there are another hundreds of the pests roaming around the garden, even if you can’t see them.
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We recommend that you purchase some organic, raw tobacco and soak it in water to make tobacco juice. Spray this formulation on the leaves of your plants to avoid insects chewing up your crop.
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10. Dealing with Diseases
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Unfortunately for aspiring growers, squash is susceptible to fungal and bacterial disease, as well as pests. One of the most common garden pathogens affecting squash \u2013 is powdery mildew. These fungi sit on the top of leaves, giving the plant the appearance that someone dusted it with talcum powder. In most cases, powdery mildew is white in color, but it may also look off-white or grey as well.
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Bacterial wilt is also another problem facing squash growers, and most gardens are affected by these two pathogens at some stage during the season, especially if you live in a humid or wet climate. Gardeners growing squash in greenhouses should ensure that they check the crop after each rainfall to ensure that powdery mildew does not ravage your crop.
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Greenhouse growers can use sulfur lamps to remove fungal infections from the plant, while outdoor growers have to rely on organic fungicides to kill the invasive fungi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Planting Squash Outdoors
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If you intend on starting your vegetable garden in an outdoor environment, then you need to be aware that squash takes an extensive amount of time to sprout and develop the first three sets of leaves. After this initial growth phase, the plant gains in size and weight rapidly.
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Unfortunately for growers, the slow start in squash plants means that the seeds have exposure to environmental threats during the first few days after planting. Birds may swoop down on your garden and devour the seeds, or other garden pests like rodents may eat them before they have the chance to sprout.
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Fortunately, we have a method that speeds up the germination process, while protecting your seeds from insects and birds. Place a layer of plastic wrap on the ground after planting, covering the seeds. This strategy provides a greenhouse effect to the seeds, accelerating germination while offering protection. The seeds should sprout in two or three days, and then it\u2019s time to remove the covering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. Mulching Your Squash
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All growers understand the importance of tilling and fertilizing the soil before you plant your harvest. We recommend that you cultivate and feed after you pull the last veggies from the garden at the end of the fall. This practice gives the garden soil time to recover from the season’s harvest. Rest the soil over the wintertime, and it will be ready for planting as soon as the ground thaws in the early spring.
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After planting your new crop of squash, we recommend that you wait until the plant develops three sets of leaves before you start to fertilize. Fertilizing too early may cause burns on the leaves, resulting in stunted growth and lower yields.
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After the leaves start to form, lay down your first layer of mulch, a few inches from the stem. Don’t place the mulch close to the stem as squash as prone to developing root rot. A great way to avoid root rot from killing your plant is to create a raised circle of earth around the stem that prevents water from touching the plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13. Pick the Flowers
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As your squash plant grows, it extends its branches across the ground, developing broad, green leaves. As the squash starts to grow, you’ll notice that the plant begins to produce small flowers. While the flowers may look pretty and contribute to the scenery in your garden, they take away from the growth potential of the plant.
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Producing flowers takes plenty of energy from the squash plant that could go into the production of squash. Therefore, we recommend that you pick all the flowers from the plant as they start to appear. The flowers are p[art of the plant’s reproductive cycle. Since you have no interest in seeing the plant survive to the following growing season, it’s pointless to leave the flowers.
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When the squash reaches maturity, we recommend that you place a plastic dish or plate under the fruit to catch them as they fall. Squash left on the ground for a day will bruise and start to rot, making it unsuitable for eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. Storage Tips
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After harvesting your squash, make sure you rinse the veggies thoroughly before storing them. The skin of the fruit spent the last few months exposed to the elements, and there may be pathogens on the surface of the squash.
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For best results, add a tablespoon of baking soda to a sink of water, and wash your squash. The baking soda turns the water alkaline, killing off any viruses or bacteria before you send the squash to storage.
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There’s no need to keep the squash in the refrigerator. It’s best to store squash in a cool root cellar at temperatures not exceeding 55F.
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Squash doesn’t need quite as cold an environment at beets for storage, so store your squash on the top shelf of your root cellar for optimal shelf life. In most cases, you can save squash for up to 2 to 3-months if the conditions are ideal for the preservation of vegetables.
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