Sow seeds vertically 1cm deep in a small pot. Place in propagator/cover with glass or polythene bag until the seedlings appear (usually 5-8 days). When the seedlings have 2/3 leaves transplant into 2L pots and grow on for a few more weeks. In mid-late May (a week before transplanting) dig a large hole 30cm square for each squash plant (50cm apart, in rows 50cm apart) and fill with lots of well-rotted manure. Make a mound and cloche to warm soil up. Harden off the squash plants for 3-4 days before transplanting out into centre of mound. Keep covered with cloche for a week or so and water well. Can also be grown in greenhouse soil provided it is very fertile and kept moist.

Squash are hungry feeders so to give them a good start outside, dig a hole 30cm square and fill with well rotted manure and mound the soil up and cloche the area a week before direct sowing. Plant 2 seeds into the centre of each mound (1cm deep, spacing 50cm apart, in rows 50cm apart) and cloche again until the seedlings grow. Remove the weaker seedling, and remove cloche a couple of weeks later. Seed will not germinate until the temperature is consistently above 13°C. Keep well watered.