Winter Squash Autumn Crown Seeds

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Squash Autumn Crown is an interesting F1 hybrid variety that produces Butternut coloured scalloped fruits that typically weigh 2kg each. The flesh is deep orange with a small seed cavity, and a unique sweet melon aroma.

The plants have a short vine habit, and typically produce 5 fruits per plant.

Average Packet Contents: 10 Seeds

General Winter Squash Seeds Growing Tips

Seed Sowing

For an early crop, sow seeds in 7.5cm pots during April under cover. Ideally the temperature should be no less than 18 C. It can take up to 10 days for the seeds to germinate, after which you should remove the polythene covers. Keep the young plants in a warm and light environment until all danger of frost has passed. If you have a cold frame then harden them off for a week before planting out into prepared beds or containers. Otherwise, plant them out at 90cm apart and cover with cloches.

Alternatively, you can sow seeds directly into outdoor beds, growbags or large containers during May. It’s a good idea to warm the soil beforehand by covering with cloches or polythene for a few days before sowing the seeds. Sow 2 seeds per 90cm spacing and remove the weaker seedling 7-10 days after they appear.

If growing in pots, choose a size of at least 45cm diameter. If you grow 2 or more plants in a container of this size, the fruits will be smaller than if grown in open ground. If using growbags then you should restrict the number to one plant per growbag. The young plants will benefit from some shelter during their first 4 weeks so if possible, keep them covered with cloches or polythene tunnels.

Soil Preparation

If you intend to plant into open ground then ensure the soil is well prepared beforehand by incorporating plenty of organic matter during the winter or early spring. Alternatively, you can create pockets of growing medium by digging out a spade’s width and depth of soil and replacing it with a mixture of organic matter and general compost. Add a little granular fertiliser to each pocket before planting. For pots and containers the growing medium should also consist of organic matter and a general compost mix.

Planting Out

If you intend to grow your squashes over the open ground then lay down straw or a polythene sheet to protect the growing fruits from the damp soil.

General Aftercare

Keep plants well-watered by applying water around the roots. A mulch would help to preserve moisture and prevent the soil from drying out.