• DELIVERY INFO: Seed potatoes & onion/shallot sets are now being shipped. Plug plants will be shipped from late April onwards. See FAQs for further info.

Winter Squash – Queensland Blue

£5.99

Decorative and deliciously tasty
This is an Australian variety of squash that produces bluish-green, deep ribbed fruits that taste almost like treacle when roasted. These fruits can grow pretty big, weighing as much as 4.5kg! They store brilliantly, so are great to use over the course of late winter when other crops are scarce. You can expect to get 3 or 4 large squashes from each plant, so enjoy all those yummy stews and soups! Winter squash is very easy to grow from our organic plug plants – there is loads of advice in our comprehensive growing guide that you will receive with your plants.

Number of plants: 3 plug plants

Variety: Queensland Blue (organic*)

In the kitchen: For a simple and delicious side dish, try baking this winter squash until the flesh is soft. Also brilliant and tasty in soups. Top tip – cut into big chunks and roast – then peel afterwards, it is much easier!

THESE PLANTS WILL BE SHIPPED IN SPRING 2024

Delivery Info: Please see FAQs for up-to-date delivery info.

Planting: Plant plugs 80-100cm apart. Keep well watered, they are thirsty plants! When to harvest: Harvest pumpkins and squash in Late September/October when the stalks have dried out and the skin has changed colour and toughened up.

*Transplants suitable for organic growing.

Butternut Squash

Full sun & fertile soil

Full sun and fertile soil are important – Squash are hungry plants so make sure you dig in plenty of organic fertiliser when you plant them.

Butternut Squash

Traditional Plot or Raised Beds

Squash tend to be large sprawling plants so are best grown in raised beds or traditional plots where they have space. Alternatively, you can grow them in large pots and train them up a trellis. Tie the vines in frequently, and when fruits start to form you may need to help support them by making little hammocks!

Butternut Squash

How far apart?

Plant squash 1 to 1.5 metres apart

Butternut Squash

Don't plant out too early

Plant them outside when the risk of frost has passed and the weather has warmed up. Until then, keep them in pots under cover. If you do have to plant out early, use a cloche to protect them.

Butternut Squash

Watering & feeding

These are thirsty plants and need a lot of water. We’d suggest you water them daily during dry spells. Try not to let the soil dry out. Should you start to notice any discolouration in the leaves it’s probable that they’re not getting enough water.

Butternut Squash

When to harvest

Summer Squash: Harvest regularly once the squash reach a good size.

Winter Squash: Harvest in late September/October, before the first frosts. The stalk of the squash should have started to dry up and turn brown/yellow, and the skin should have hardened enough that you can’t pierce it with your thumbnail.

Powdery Mildew

This fungal white coating on leaves is nothing to be worried about and is very common in all pumpkins and squashes. During the early part of the season, leaves should come through nice and green, and towards the end of the season you start to see powdery mildew creep in. If you do have it earlier in the season, remove affected foliage and keep plants well watered to strengthen them.


Nutrient Deficiency/Lack of water

Any yellow or brown patches forming on the leaves can usually be attributed to a lack of nutrients. Make sure your squash plants are getting enough water so that they can draw up the nutrients that they need – the soil should be consistently moist – and use a liquid feed fortnightly once fruits start forming.


Storage Tips

Summer squash can be kept in the fridge for a few days once picked. Winter squash will keep well for several weeks (sometimes months) stored on a windowsill in your home.

Ways to cook

Winter squashes are great for creamy risottos, and lovely roasted for soups as well.

Summer squashes can be cooked in much the same way as courgettes.

Delivery Info: Plants will be shipped in spring 2024. Please see FAQs for delivery info.

Do I need to sign for them?
All our plant orders are dispatched with an overnight courier* to mainland UK and do not need to be signed for when they are delivered, but will be left somewhere safe. When placing your order, please let us know where you would like the plug plants left if you are not in when the courier delivers.

We will keep you posted
You will receive an email to let you know that your order is ready to be dispatched and another on the day your plants are packed and leave us, so you know to expect and prepare for their arrival.