[Tomatofreak]

Good evening all from a very rainy Norwich!

Quick question for you, is it too late to sow my autumn/winter squashes again?

This is my first year attempting to grow them.  I put my seedlings outside (still in pots) far too early and they are looking very poorly. I've brought them inside again but dont think they are going to recover.

Back of the seed packets say to sow during April & May but I know the more experienced growers will will be able to give me an idea if it is worth it.

Many thanks

[fatbelly]

Last season I sowed my BNS too early and they all died off by late May. I re-sowed in the 1st week of June and got a great crop. I still haven't put this years BNS & Pumpkins out on the pot and probably will do so this weekend.

[Tomatofreak]

Thank you Fatbelly, sounds very reassuring. I'm going to give it go, nothing to lose!

[sunshineband]

Alternatively you could consider my solution last year, which was to buy a couple of plants from the GC

This year mine are out now, but protected by a debris netting tent against the worst of the weather

[SnooziSuzi]

I've had to sow and resow mine this year; they keep being eaten by slugs! 

I sowed the last lot at the weekend  and if the weather perks up hopefully I'll get a nice crop from them.  Am going to use some liquid seaweed to hurry things along this year

[Tomatofreak]

Thanks Snoozi for your reply.  Honestly, I can't  believe how a slug or snail could upset me so much. All that love and attention we give our little plants, turn your back for a moment and there gone! It's a war against slugs this week, especially with all this rain, they are blinkin' everywhere!

[yorkiegal]

I hate them with a passion! I planted out my courgette seedlings through plastic on top of the pile of turf I've collected. Came back the next morning to big holes in all the leaves.

[Aunt Sally]

The plastic will harbour slugs under it !

[galen]

Unless you take appropriate precautions.  Admittedly my courgette / squash mounds are a compost/soil mix so hopefully don't harbour too many of the little bu***rs but I do find a preventative sprinkling of slug pellets before putting down the plastic on top creates an appropriate barrier.

Now, this wind and rain... 

[Yorkie]

Personally, I'd get plants in.  Squashes - particularly ones like the butternuts - need a very long growing season and we are already way into June.

[mumofstig]

butternuts are an exeption, as they do need a long season, but many of the other varieties will be fine sown now
My first lot of Uchiki kuri didn't germinate so I ordered more seeds and resowed on 31st May - only a week ago
They were kept indoors in the warm and were up within 4 days and are fast catching the other early squash sowings up  - So go for it