成人快手

The Squash Files

Post categories: squash

Chris Howard | 11:00 UK time, Tuesday, 26 May 2009

Apparently you lot have just had the hottest day of the year so far. Well bully for you, because I'm on the Isle of Arran in Scotland filming the new Green Balloon Club series, and we spent that 'glorious' day being buffeted by gale force winds, waiting out torrential downpours with no shelter and getting eaten alive by midges. Usually I enjoy that kind of thing, but when everyone's banging on about lovely weather elsewhere it becomes a bit rich.

Anyway, from our weather problems to your squash ones. Now, getting five weeks in before your first real crisis is pretty good, so well done for getting this far! Squash can be tricky; I've had my fair share of problems too.

I probably jumped the gun a bit with my own seedlings and planted them out too early, as there are just folorn looking stalks now where once were luscious leaves. Luckily, I held a couple back and have just re-potted them, but being up here in Arran I have no idea what they are doing. My girlfriend promised to do her very best, but I got a text this morning saying she was worried about the second squash batch (although I fear sabotage as she wants her balcony back).

It makes you wonder - why, when the veg is so massive, in your face and downright rude-looking, are the plants so weedy and frail? Is all this macho veg posturing compensating for being so pathetic as seedlings? Maybe!

Ann's diagnosis looks good, but be very careful now you know that. Drink may well make you forget, but it can also kill. A common mistake when this kind of thing happens is to overwater. When a plant looks sick it can be easy to keep throwing water on it to bring it back, but too much is as bad as too little. If the pot isn't draining well then water can build up around the roots and cause even more damage - effectively drowning the plant. So don't over do it - moderation is the key.

By the way, Springwatch

will have started by the time you read this, and if you haven't already then check out their webcams - live bird's nest footage. They are amazing and I can spend hours watching them. And it helps take the mind off those pesky squashes!

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