Squash "Avalon F1 Hybrid"

A superb variety of compact Butternut Squash. Early to ripen, and with a rich sweet orange flesh, Avalon is perfect for baking and roasting. The fruits will also store well, for up to 6 months.

• Early ripening, small sized fruits
• Sow April to May
• Prefers well drained, moist, rich soil in full sun
• Also grows well in cooler climates
• Harvest August onwards
• Cut and store before frosts

Sowing instructions - Germinate in 3in pots at 20-30ºC on the surface of a good free drianing, damp seed compost. Apply a layer of compost or vermiculite, 1/2in deep. Place in a propagator or seal container in a polythene bag until after germination which takes 5-10 days.

Growing instructions - gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 30in apart. Can also be sown direct outdoors once the soil has warmed. Sow 2 seeds every 24in and thin out to the best seedling.

In the vegetable garden:

Difficult to germinate, needed good heat and took much longer than expected to germinate. Grew on indoors on window sills.

Planted best plant in large pot on patio in John Innes No.3. One additional plant in medium sized pot.

Two additional plants planted in medium sized pot using 'grow bag compost' then planted on into soil.

Early July - largest plant starts to spread significantly and sent out runners. Moved plant and pot to upper garden.