When to sow squash seeds in heated propogator?

Bill_and_Ben

I've just bought a heated propagator and want to use it to sow squash seeds that I've collected from brought ones over the last couple of years. 

I sowed quite a few last year and they germinated and grew into lovely plants but I got no squash at all! I think I planted them too late (started in my unheated greenhouse and planted out mid June) so they didn't have enough growing season. I am keen to get ahead this year. Research says to plant butternut squash indoors in April but some sites say late April and others just say April. Am I getting too far ahead of myself wanted to do this April 1st?

I am in Cambridge, quite a way inland in East Anglia and the last frost date is typically mid May.

Any advice would be mush appreciated. 

fidgetbones

You can't plant them out until after the last frost. Even then a really cold night will check them. Here in the midlands, I sow all my tender stuff, runner beans, french beans, sweet corn, courgettes and squashes, the last week in April/ to 1st May, with a view to planting out at the end of May, beginning of June.  They do not need much heat. I find a propagator lid without bottom heat is more than sufficient at that stage.

fidgetbones

Last year wasn't brilliant for squashes,  year before they were growing really fast.  Depends on the weather really.

Skandi

Put them in a maximum of 3 weeks before your last frost, you don't want them to get pot bound or suffer from lack of light before you can put them out, and they germinate and grow fast. Mine go out around the 1st of June.

Bill_and_Ben

Thanks all - really helpful. I'll curb my enthusiasm until nearer the end of the month!