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DELIVERY INFO: If you order plants today we expect to ship within 1-2 weeks. - See FAQs for more info.
Ornamental Gourd – Improved Ornamental Mix
(3 Plug Plants)
Organic plug plants
Easy to grow
Great for raised beds
Shipped within 1-2 weeks
£5.99
For a fabulous autumn display
These fun, brightly coloured non-edible gourds will add that rustic, natural touch to autumn displays. Best grown up a trellis or support to keep plants off the ground to produce better fruits. They will need full sunshine, and will do well grown in a polytunnel/greenhouse. The mix provides a range of shapes, sizes and colours for harvesting in October. They’ll look great on windowsills and as table decorations.
Please note: These ornamental squashes are not edible. If you grow these alongside other pumpkins/squashes, DO NOT collect seed at the end of the season as cross-pollination can occur.
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[blogtitle] => Interested in Growing Winter Squash & Pumpkins?
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[post_content] => Here are a few ideas for those of you who don't have space for pumpkins and squash to sprawl all over the ground...
Let them climb: The trailing varieties of our squash and pumpkin varieties will naturally climb, making them perfect for growing vertically up against a trellis or sturdy fence. Tie them in initially, and then they will get the message easily enough!
Plant them between taller plants, like sweetcorn: this is a good way of getting more into a small space - the squash plants will sprawl out in between the sweetcorn and provide ground cover.
Plant bush varieties in pots: Honey Bear and Cornells Bush Delicata are compact plants that will do well in deep containers.
Prune trailing varieties to three fruits: This is a good tip if you'd like to grow a trailing variety in containers. Once the plants start to flower, wait until you see the first three fruits forming, and then keep pruning back new vines. This will keep the plant smaller, whilst giving you (hopefully) three good fruits per plant.
[post_title] => Growing Squash & Pumpkins in Small Spaces
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[post_content] => Pumpkins and Squashes are one of the more satisfying vegetable types to grow, mainly because you really see a difference in them as they grow from tiny little nippers to huge big pumpkins (or other squash!) They will be beginning to ripen this month, and it's great fun being able to harvest them as Halloween approaches. That said, we want to encourage you not to pick them too soon as you want to avoid cooking and eating them before they are fully ripe. It won't harm you, but it won't taste nearly as good.
Giving pumpkins and squashes a little time to fully ripen means they are able to develop that deep, sweet flavour and a better texture too. Cook them before they're ready and you might find they go a bit gloopy when they're cooked, and it's not quite so tasty. Here are our top tips:
Cut off any leaves that are blocking the pupmkins/squashes from direct sunlight as this'll help them to ripen.
Wait for them to completely change colour (e.g. a Jack O'Lantern turns completely orange, and a butternut has that peachy colouring all over)
Once they've changed colour, leave them on the vine for another 3-5 days so that the flesh inside can ripen too.
When you think they're ready to harvest, start with one and cut a small slice off at the stalk to see if the flesh is orange all the way through before picking the others. If it's still green around the skin then they need to ripen a little more.
If you do harvest one that hasn't fully ripened, don't panic - you can leave it on a sunny windowsill for a few days and it'll keep ripening.
Once ripe and harvested be sure to store them in a cool, dark place so that they don't over ripen.
[post_title] => Harvesting Pumpkins and Squashes
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[post_content] => If you're just starting out with a new plot, or if you're trying to add some extra growing space this season, then we would highly recommend getting a pumpkin & squash patch on the go. It's very easy, quick and a great way to clear weeds for future growing.
If you're starting with an existing raised bed/plot, then jump to step 6 (or step 3 if it's covered in weeds!)
Step 1 - Find a sheltered, sunny site
Step 2 - Mark out the area you wish to convert to growing space
Step 3 - Dig out any BIG weeds, like brambles or docks. Don't worry about nettles and grass.
Step 4 - Cover the area with a layer of brown cardboard (tape/staples removed!) - the cardboard will prevent the weeds from continuing to grow, and will decompose into the soil by the end of the season.
Step 5 - Cover the cardboard with a 10cm layer of compost and/or well rotted manure
Step 6 - Cover the bed/plot with a sheet of weed control fabric (there are biodegradable options on the market, or you can choose to use black polythene but pull it up carefully at the end of the season, ready to re-use another time) - be sure to secure it well at the edges.
Step 7 - Cut 10cm holes in the weed fabric at 1m intervals, and plant your pumpkin/squash plants in the holes.
You'll be able to water into the holes, and the polythene will prevent moisture from evaporating so your plants shouldn't get thirsty. At the same time, the membrane will keep the soil warm giving your pumpkins a good growth boost. The plants will soon sprawl out and hide the membrane from sight, and when fruits form you can rest assured that they will not be touching the soil and therefore unlikely to rot before they have ripened.
As your pumpkin patch is growing, the weeds underneath will be starved of light and will die off. At the end of the season (or at the start of the next) you can remove the membrane to reveal a weed-free plot/bed.
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Here are a few ideas for those of you who don’t have space for pumpkins and squash to sprawl all over the ground… Let them climb: The trailing varieties of...
Pumpkins and Squashes are one of the more satisfying vegetable types to grow, mainly because you really see a difference in them as they grow from tiny little nippers to huge...
If you’re just starting out with a new plot, or if you’re trying to add some extra growing space this season, then we would highly recommend getting a pumpkin &...
My order arrived in perfect condition. The plants are excellent. If possible, please forward this email to Paige who sorted out the delivery problems last month for me. I have been very impressed with the service from rocket Gardens and will definitely be using you again later this year or next year.
J.J
“”
Thank you for the magnificent array of plants which arrived safely yesterday. Can’t wait to get them planted (and to eat the end result!) I’m impressed by the excellent condition they arrived in.
Hilary Sawyer, Whitney
“”
This isn’t a query about this order, but I wanted to thank you for the plants you sent. They are happily settled in, having arrived in good condition. Also, I was most impressed by your packaging, its quality, its recyclable material and the care with which the plants were packed. I look forward to future orders, my first having been excellent. All best wishes.
