Kitchen Garden Forum

I have been offered use of a small plot on my brother in laws farm where we as a family intend to have the aim of growing our Christmas Dinner (he also raises turkeys for xmas). I have divided up what I want to grow into things I can fit in the garden which probably need more daily attention, and things that need more space than I have, and not so much attention and they can go up to the plot. The butternut Squashes fall into the latter category, but I am wondering if they will require more watering than they would realistically get up there. I was hoping to go up 2 - 3 times a week in the height of summer, but not sure I could get there daily. What sort of water requirements do squashes have for good flavour? I think I have purchased Harriers.

Dear Elle, i think as long as the soil is in fair condition with plenty of humus incorporated, there wouldn't be a problem at all regarding the watering.
Once the plants get growing you could put another thick mulch of compost or very well rotted manure over the soil to retain moisture.
I would only be looking to give them a real good soaking about once a week when they are at full growth, and the weather is on the dry side.

You could mulch to prevent loss of moisture between waterings

We wouldn't water them on out plot any more than you intend to. Once they grow the leaves tend to act as a sort of mulch

Brilliant, thanks guys (and girls), that is reassuring. On the plot they go!

Before I had my automatic watering system installed in the garden, I used to work out where in the vegetable patch I would be growing my most water-thirsty vegetables and in that area I would dig into the soil a generous helping of the water-retention crystals which you can obtain from garden centres. This really worked well combined with a mulch, especially in dry periods where it wasn't always easy to water regularly.

Hi Primrose,

I have wondered about those crystals - I have used them for cut flowers, but I don't know how natural they are. Do they just decompose over time in the soil? I assume that as they are recommended for hanging baskets where it is likely that spent compost will be returned to the compost heap, that they can't have real nasties in them.

I've used these crystals both in patio containers which have a tendency to dry out quickly, and also in the soil in dry borders & vegetable patch. They do disintegrate eventually but tend to last for one growing season. Just make sure you dig them in well and mix with the soil. If don't do this they have a tendency when they absorb water and swell up and cling together, and you end up with a gel-like substance which looks rather like frogspawn pushing its way up to the surface of the soil.

I think they're pretty harmless. My plants and vegetables have never shown any adverse effect anyway.