Squash Red Kuri
Like courgettes, squash require a bit of special treatment up front, but then transform into a beautiful jungly plant once they get going.
Because the fruit of Red Kuri doesn't get much bigger than the size of a large hand it's light enough to allow you to 'train' the plant up over a bamboo teepee. These make great use of space and bring a striking vertical dimension into your plot.
Time from seed to plate: 20 weeks
Sowing Calendar
Sow
Squash are vulnerable to frost, so they need to be sown and kept inside until the frosts have finished.
Our propagator kits with 'Jiffy 7' compost pellets are ideal for sowing. Soak three or four pellets in water till they expand and push a seed into each one till it's covered with compost. Put them in the propagator, cover, and place on a warm windowsill or in a greenhouse. Keep moist.
Within one or two weeks the seeds should sprout. Remove the propagator lid at this stage.
After a month or so, the roots will have filled the jiffy and it's time to either plant out, or if it's still cold outside, transfer the plants to the '3 inch' pots included in the kit to give them more growing room. Remove the jiffy bag encasing the compost, and plant firmly in the 3 inch pot filled with compost. Use the propagator lid as a watering tray.
Growing method: Seed propagating kit
Grow
You can just let your squash grow along the ground but I like to grow them up a tepee. They look amazing, and make much better use of space. Construct the tepee out of six 6ft bamboo canes ties securely at the top. Pick your two best looking plants and plant them next to the tepee. Discard the others or give them to a mate.
As the plants grow, tie the growing shoots onto the canes to create a spiral up
the tepee. Tie the string firmly to the cane first, then tie the string loosely around the plant stem trying not to damage it. Keep the ground moist because the roots are shallow.
Your plants will soon produce both male and female flowers. Don't be disappointed when the males produce no fruit, only the females do this.
Mildew will develop on the leaves in August/September and they will wither. This is normal and doesn't affect the fruit. In fact it makes them easier to pick!
Harvest
Unlike other crops that are picked gradually over time, you should harvest all your squash at once, then store through the winter until you need them. Leave them to ripen to a deep red on the vine, then bring them inside to a bright cool place to harden off for a couple of weeks. Then store store somewhere dry and frost free, like the garage.