Stop your Squash

Hopefully by now you will have several decent-sized squashes per plant depending on what variety you're growing.

If you haven't already done so you might want to consider stopping your squashes and pumpkins. This means preventing them from growing more foliage and fruit by pinching out the growing tips and removing flowers and any small fruit. The theory is that the plant will concentrate it's energy into growing the existing fruit, allowing them time to ripen and the skins to harden before harvest.

It's also a good idea to rest each fruit on a bed of straw to keep it off the ground. This helps keep the fruit clean and away from slugs and prevents rotting in very wet weather.

Submitted by Jane, plot 9