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Gourds require full sun, fertile, well-drained and humus rich soil that was well manured during winter.
The top of a compost heap makes an ideal location providing it gets plenty of sunshine.
Alternatively use an open topped coldframe
Squashes can be grown vertically in a greenhouse bed and grown up and supported on a purpose built frame or grown as cordons up single canes.
Water freely during hot spells and apply a deep mulch of compost, peat or lawn cuttings to preserve moisture.
Week 16; Sow one or two seeds (on edge) into 75mm (3") pots of seed compost.
Germinate at a temperature of 10°C (50°F), this should take about a week.
Alternatively; sow seeds in-situ where the plants are to grow, and protect them with cloches.
Week 18; Prick out seedlings into 70mm(3") pots
Harden off the young plants in a cold frame prior to planting out.
Week 22; Providing all late frosts have passed, plant out 900mm (36") apart.
Week 27; Pinch out the growing tips of trailing varieties to encourage the production of laterals which tend to bear most of the female flowers.
Week 29; Assist pollination by transferring pollen from the male flower to the female flowers.
Female flowers are distinguished by the bulbous ovary behind the petals.
Week 38; onwards Harvest fruits as they mature during summer.
Larger fruited types should be left to mature on the plants until late autumn.
Store fruits for winter use in a cool, frost free shed.
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