SQUASH ‘Gem’ Vegetable Seeds
Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo
A South African favorite, this winter squash resembles a dark green, round cannonball. It produces up to 8 squash per vine and stores for up to 4 months if fully mature.
Plant Type: Vigorous annual trailing vine
Plant Height: 45 cm
Sow When:
- Temperate: Spring to early summer
- Subtropical: Spring, grow on a trellis to reduce fungal problems
- Tropical: Unlikely to do well, very prone to powdery mildew
Germination: 7 – 10 days
Depth: 15 – 20 mm deep
Position: Full sun
Sow Where: Direct into garden bed, keep soil moist.
Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained soil, high in nitrogen, pH 6 – 7.5; add plenty of compost
Rows: Space ‘hills’ 1 m apart
Spacing: Sow 3 – 6 seeds and thin to the 2 – 3 strongest
Harvest: 90 – 100 days: younger ones can be harvested and eaten like zucchini
