Sowing pumpkins, squashes and gourds
We have added an extension to our pumpkin mound so we can grow more pumpkins, squashes and gourds. The mound is basically just a row of compost piled high directly on the ground, essentially a raised bed without sides. The mound gives us a south facing slope to capture all available sun and allows the roots plenty of space to spread out without doing any soil cultivation. This is essentially just a giant version of letting a pumpkin grow in your compost bin.
To fill this extra space I am sowing more seeds than in previous years and am going to plant as many varieties as I can squeeze in so we can have a great display for the Taste of Autumn event later in the year. As the pumpkins, squashes and gourds are all tender plants that need plenty of warmth to get started I am sowing them in containers inside to plant out after all risk of frost in late May or early June.
I like to sow the large seeds in 1 litre pots so I don’t have to pot them up once they start growing. I only fill the pots about two-thirds of the way up with compost and sow the seeds on edge into this. When the seeds have germinated and put on their first true leaf they tend to be a little leggy, even in our bright greenhouse. I top the pots up with a bit more compost to cover the stem up to the leaves. The stem will put out roots, filling the pot and making sturdy plants that won’t be root bound by the time I plant them out.