Pumpkins

Just Giles

Hi, I was very jealous watching Montys pumpkin and squash harvest. I live at the top of a fairly exposed hill, near Newcastle, it's snowing outside now. Would i actually have any chance of successfully growing pumpkins and squash or do i just not live in the right climate? In fact, whilst i hear its been a difficult 'grow your own' year all round, after a first fairly unsuccessful year, I do wonder whether i should try growing more things that can cope better with the colder wetter climate we have round here. Not sure what veg this would be?

Italophile

Pumpkin and squash need pretty decent spells of warm weather in the mid-20s at least. How long they take to maturity depends on the variety, obviously, but even the smaller ones need around 90 days.

Busy-Lizzie

If Monty managed to grow pumpkins in this wet summer then you should be able to grow them in a more normal summer. Trouble is you don't know what to expect in advance! Runner beans like wet, broad beans are quite hardy, so are brassicas. Spinach should be OK. Nearly everyone had a bad year this year. I wouldn't even think of sweet peppers or aubergines and if you specially wanted tomatoes then one of those cheap shelters with clear plastic or even a greenhouse may be something to think about - so long as it doesn't blow away!

Obelixx

Try some of the smaller varieties like Kutchi kuri which may well ripen more easily than teh larger ones.   A packet of seeds won't break the bank.  Start them off in individual pots on the window sill in April to have plants to put out after the last frosts of May.  That should give them time to ripen well.  Make sure their soil has been improved with plenty of good garden compost and/or well rotted manure so it is fullof nutirents and retains moisture as they are hungry, thirsty plants.

Just Giles

Thanks,



Think i will try some small squash next year, really enjoy eating them.



I tried growing a lot of different things this year, with limited success. Lettuce and Rhubarb did the best; onions, garlic and leek all grew ok but got rust midway; swede grew well until the caterpillars ate most of the leaves (will buy netting for next year); chilli's, peppers and potatoes did okish in the greenhouse; broccoli, cauliflower, courgettes, beans, carrots, parsnips, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, spinach, asparagus, celeriac all barely grew at all outside; cucumber and tomatoes did very badly in the greenhouse



Just trying to think what i can do better next year. I'm sure I'll still end up trying to grow the exotic as well, but want to end up with a bit more 'fruit' from my labours

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Just Giles

Hadnt occured to me to look for different varieties, usually just buy seeds from the garden centre. I assume i could try that with other fruit and veg, look for varieties that cope with cold better.



Are there any seed selling websites that are structured in a way that makes easy to see which variety of a certain plant might be better suited to your climate?

Italophile

Most good sites give you information on varieties, sizes and expected time to maturity. I use T&M.