Sweetcorn & Squash

Hi all,

Just signed up to ask a few questions regarding the above, tried another forum but it yielded zero replies :skp:. I recently decided to have a bash at growing sweetcorn because I love it and I also like butternut squash so thought i'd give that a go too, things aren't going too bad but generally but I have some possible issues I would like advice on if you would.

As in the photos I have sweetcorn growing in beds, this should all be fine and I see no problems other than what I think is a clay soil but with lots of compost dug in, the ones I planted directly out as seed are growing ok but very slowly (ones at the back left of the right side bed, only about 6. The others in the right bed have only just gone out and hopefully will do as well as the left side bed ones which went out earlier from growing indoors.

The first question is the ones in pots, clearly doing the best but can I grow them out completely in those pots, there's only one per pot. I've had a look on the net and I get the feeling I could as long as I keep them fed and well watered.

The second issue is the butternut squash, unfortunately quite a few didn't make planting out, they just wilted and never recovered. The remaining ones in the bed are still alive but do not look happy and don't grow really, they're in a slightly shadier spot as it's a very sunny garden. The two in the pots are doing very well but having no idea how big they grow i'm already guessing they will not survive in those pots and need to be planted out? They're the only two that are going to make it I think so if I do need to plant out what's the best way to do it and when as I don't want to kill them in the process, also where in the garden do you think would be best judging by the photo.

Sorry for the long post, if any more info is needed just ask and thanks in advance for any replies.

 

Hiya Phoenix, I'm certainly no squash expert but I have found that sometimes they just take a little while to get going. I would say you'll probably need bigger gaps between the ones by the sweetcorn (ie probably 3 foot) as they do spread and the corn might actually shade them too much. I'd just bite the bullet and plant out the potted ones. I'm just getting into squash growing myself and love it. I hope someone can help you better.

Liz

 

Hi pheonix,

Only just trying my first butternut squash this year, planted about 3/4 weeks ago and only just taking off.

I wouldnt take the sweetcorn out of the pots, they don't like root disturbance at the best of time. They look good so the best thing to do would be to get them onto some fertile soil or compost so they can push their roots out thru the bottom of the pots & get some more nutrient. Feeding is good & remember, we're halfway thru the growing season so don't mess up what we've got going already. Good luck, let us know how they get on.

 

I don't know about sweetcorn in pots, I just meant the squash. Oops.

 

Thanks all for the replies.

I've decided i'm going to cut a section out of the bottom of the 2 squash pots and bury them in the shadier part of the garden on the right, they'll get a few hours of late afternoon sun there, they seem to wilt heavily in direct sun of the intensity we're getting at the moment. Since posting this they've grown rapdily and and now over the side and almost on the ground so they need to be at ground level really hence the decision to bury the pots.

I think you are right Shiney judging by your photo, I didn't realise they grew that big. Those squash in that left bed have only in the last couple of days started some proper growth since being planted out a month ago. I think i'll let them get a few more leaves and then attempt to move them, it'll probably kill them but I still have 2 good ones in pots. The one to the far left may be ok as it has quite a bit of space to sprawl.

I'll post a progress report in a few weeks