squash outside?

Just thinking about what to grow in my allotment even though I havent got one yet !! Its no good growing things we dont like so me and son came up with a partial list but not sure if some of these can be grown without a greenhouse?

squash type vegetable- ie summer squash?
peppers i guess need cold frame or greenhouse??
peas and beans I think are ok outside
can I grow sweet potatoes?
pak choi?

your advice would be great so at least i can think about it!

 

Last year I tried twelve varieties of squash, yes TWELVE and the one that came best with a couple of fruit in my frost pocket was Black Futsu. Despite the terrible summer even for Glasgow (start them off in a pot inside mid April).

Definitely pak choi, peas and beans outside. Peppers and sweet potato inside I reckon.

 

I agree with sawfish.But it is possible to grow peppers out side, but they need to be started of inside, ideally, of course they should be grown inside, but I would give them a try
anyway.

 

Peppers need a good warm start. By late June you should be OK outside where you are, not really here in Yorkshire.

Peas and beans - yes by all means.

Squash - Dunno.

Sweet potatoes. We had a recent discussion. Not a chance.

Pak choi - no problem.

 

thanks all. I did see the thread on sweet potatoes after I posted. Shame as I love those!!!

 

Custard squash will definitely grow outside.

 

Who the hell wants to squash custard outside? Squashing custard is an inside activity with clean socks.

 

just read that thread and it was very encouraging-especially the bit about -just planted it and left it!!!

the post at the end said that he grew them in pots so may give this a go at home as it may take us some time to get the allotment sorted if we get it.

what size pot do you reckon? 12inches sound ok??and if I put this on pation do I need to train the trailing bits to go in the garden or would they be ok on hard ground? sorry for all the questions folks!

 

I grew Red Uchiki Kuri squash last year outside. They took awhile to take off as there wasn't enough sun in the first half of summer but I ended up with 6 squash from 2 plants. They were about grapefruit size and great roasted and in soup.

 

great thanks everyone am going to give it a go and see what happens but one last question.SDo I have to grow from seed which I am never very good at or can i get little baby plants?

 

You can buy plants of pretty much everything, except root veg (like carrots, beetroot etc, which don't like being transplanted).

Garden centres and some allotments will sell plants - but make sure you harden them off - i.e. get them gradually used to the outdoors before planting them out.

I'd really suggest you try some very easy veg, which just need a seed and can then be left (other than weeding):
>>Carrots (delicious straight out the ground)
>>Parsnips (will wait for you all winter till you're ready to eat them)
>>Rocket and or any Lettuce - easy and tasty. So much better than tasteless supermarket stuff...

 

Believe it or not TC you can buy beetroot plants in your local garden centre, also swede and kohl
rabi.

 

LG. It's alright for these millionaires but as a poor pensioner I must recommend that you do what I did and grow from seed whenever possible. It is not only cheaper :D but there is the satisfaction of looking at things and saying 'I did that with no help from any other human source. Just nature and me.'

Seriously, when I first started growing from seed I had some horrors. But I soon learned and boy, is it satisfying. Don't be scared, just ask for advice.