Squashes in Parslow's Hillock

Cucurbita spp.

Squash
Squash · Cucurbita spp.

Squash come in summer and winter types, offering versatile fruits from tender courgette-like harvests to hard-skinned varieties that store through winter. They're vigorous plants that love sun and rich soil, producing colourful, flavourful crops perfect for roasting, soups, or stuffing. With trailing or compact options, there's a squash for every garden size.

60 cm · Full Shade · Low Water

Add to garden

Calibrated to Parslow's Hillock · last frost ≈ 26 Apr

Sow indoors March, plant out April to May, harvest October to November. Frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow indoorsNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Plant outNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNo

Growing guide

Step-by-step instructions for growing Squash

Growing guide for

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Traditional method for larger winter squashes like butternut or crown prince, allowing vines to spread for maximum yield in open ground.

  1. 01

    Start Seeds Indoors

    1 Mar to 22 Mar

    Fill pots with peat-free seed compost and sow seeds on their side about deep. Keep them warm until they germinate, then grow on in a bright spot.

  2. 02

    Care for Seedlings

    11 Mar to 15 Apr

    Water your young squash plants regularly to keep the compost moist, and pot them on into larger containers if roots fill the pot.

  3. 03

    Harden Off Seedlings

    19 Apr to 26 Apr

    Gradually accustom your squash plants to outdoor conditions by placing them outside for increasing time each day over a week or two.

  4. 04

    Transplant Outdoors

    26 Apr to 10 May

    Once the risk of frost has passed in Parslow's Hillock, plant out into rich, well-prepared soil in full sun, spacing apart depending on variety.

  5. 05

    Ongoing Care

    3 May to 31 Aug

    Keep plants well watered, especially during dry spells, and mulch around them to retain moisture. Feed every couple of weeks with a high-potash feed once fruits start to swell.

  6. 06

    Train and Prune

    2 Jun to 1 Aug

    Allow vines to trail naturally, or pinch out growing tips once 4-6 fruits have set to direct energy into ripening them.

  7. 07

    Harvest Fruits

    8 Oct to 1 Nov

    Cut mature squashes with a sharp knife, leaving a short stem, when skins are hard and leaves start to die back before first frosts.

Companion plants

Tap a plant to see why it works (or doesn't) with Squash.

Good companions

Plants to avoid

Why companion planting matters

Companion planting can deter pests, improve pollination, and make better use of space. Some plants confuse pests or attract beneficial insects; others improve soil or offer shade to neighbours that need it.

Squash guides by town

See how Squash timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.