"Dwayne" replied to.
"John DH" who asked
I am growing jaspee de vende squash, from seed. I'm pleased to say
they're
going like triffids, but I don't know what to do next.

1. Should I limit the length of the main stem & side shoots ?

You can.

True, but it's not necessary unless you are running out of space. The more
leaves the more food the plant is making, but the more water it needs. (1
Gal / 4.6 Ltr per plant per day is what I give).
That said Jaspee de Vende is a bush plant and isn't supposed to run
everywhere like some I grow.


2. Do I need to hand fertilise the flowers ?

I wouldnt.

Again it shouldn't be necessary but you can, it won't hurt. Do you know how
to do it? When a female flower is open (has a embryonic squash underneath
it) you pull off an open male flower, pull off it's petals and rub the
middle bit against/around the female middle bit and when you hear a little
sigh you know it's job done. :-)


3. Do I need to remove male flowers ?

No.

Certainly not if you want fruit, the female flowers must be fertilised and
the male flowers drop off anyway after they have done their bit.


4. Do you advise limiting the number of fruits ?

Depends on how much room you have to store them.

Plants normally only grow fruit they can support well, and the only reason
to remove fruit is to get bigger squashs which may be too big for the
kitchen. Jaspee de Vende is a small squash anyway so little point in
removing fruit.

5 How will I know when the fruits are ready for harvesting?

They will stop growing and turn a nice yellow/orange as they ripen. I leave
them on untill the first frost is forecast or untill the plant has died.
Jaspee is a winter squash/pumpkin and is supposed to store well.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London