Growing your own pumpkins this year? Garden experts say you must do this one job now to achieve an even bigger harvest
If you're growing pumpkins and squash in your garden, this one simple task can improve their growth come autumn time
Whilst autumn seems somewhat far away even now in August, plants in the garden that have autumnal harvests will need some help even now with growth and maintenance.
Despite us already having more than enough August gardening jobs to get through, there are some important tasks to add to your list to ensure your autumn harvests are plentiful. Should you be growing pumpkins from seed this year, you'll no doubt have noticed that they, and other squash plants, are growing quickly and rather wildly.
Summer is the time they do most of their growing; however, to ensure they deliver some impressively sized fruits just in time for Halloween, there's one thing the experts say you must do now.
Although pumpkins and other squashes are usually sown around late April to early May, it's not until October that they become ripe enough to harvest. However, before they get to that point, there's some August pruning advice you'll need to follow.
"If you’ve got pumpkins or squashes on the go this year, there’s a good chance they’ll be scrambling all over the place and taking over the world. While this may be a joy to see, it’s time to take control," says Frances Tophill, expert gardener on BBC's Gardeners' World.
"At this time of year, pumpkins and squash can benefit from cutting back the side-shoots beyond the developing fruits," she continues.
In the same way, pruning your tomato plants throughout summer can provide more fruit as the season progresses; removing these stems does the same for the squashes.
"By doing this, you're encouraging the plant to put its energy into ripening what's already been produced, rather than making more growth. It's a simple job, but one that can make all the difference to your harvest," Frances adds.
And don't forget to ensure your essential garden tools are well cleaned and sharpened; the last thing you want to do is accidentally spread disease from one squash to the rest. Or Halloween would be a scary occasion for different reasons!
It's worth noting that your squash plants will continue to need a consistent watering schedule and regular feeding alongside pruning to encourage larger fruit and long-term health.
Whether you're vegetable gardening as a beginner or have had a veggie patch for years, knowing these expert tips can make all the difference to how much food your plants produce over the year.
