Page 18 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2025

Vegetable
growing in
Scotland
This is the third part of the articles on
growing fruit and vegetables in Scotland
based on the book Fruit and Vegetables
for Scotland.
CUCURBITS
These include cucumber, marrow,
courgettes, squash (winter and summer),
pumpkins and melons.
Courgettes and Marrows
Good crops of courgettes and marrows
can be achieved in Scotland by following
conventional growing techniques, just
make sure they are planted out after the
last frosts and avoid windy sites as the
large leaves are easily damaged. Sow into
7cm modules or pots in a temperature of
21 to 24 °C, keep in good light, harden off
and plant out into a warm soil. Grow in
fertile soils and give plenty of water and
feed. They will also grow well in containers
especially the bush type.
Cultivars
All Green Bush – will also produce good
marrows and useful for containers.
Black Beauty – a good cropper with dark
green fruit.
Black Forest F1 – useful as a climbing
courgette.
Defender – compact plants and a good
cropper.
One Ball F1 – a round courgette, harvest
when the size of a tennis ball.
Soleil F1 – yellow fruit.
Cucumbers
These are best grown in a greenhouse
or polytunnel in Scotland as they are a
Courgette 'Orelia'
18 Simply Vegetables
Cucumber 'Socrates'
warm temperature crop. They can also be
grown in frames as they were in many large
kitchen gardens in the past. Sow in 7cm
pots 1cm deep in a temperature of 24°C,
once germinated grow in at 21°C in good
light. Plant out indoors in late April early
May into the border soil, growbags or large
pots (30cm+); they are also widely grown
using hydroponic systems. Keep the plants
well watered and the air humid, train up
canes or string. Once flowering starts feed
weekly with a high potash tomato feed.
Cultivars
Cumlaude F1 - high yielding.
Marketmore – high yielding and good
in cool conditions so worth a try, I have
grown for a number of years and it is pretty
reliable.
Passandra F1 – has good disease
resistance.
If grown indoors most of the newer
cultivars should be worth a try.
Pumpkins and Squash
If well grown winter squash will store
through to the spring in good conditions.
If your area is reasonable mild pumpkins
and squash can be grown outdoors in
Scotland otherwise, they are best grown
in a polytunnel or frame. Grow in fertile
moisture retentive soil in sunny sites
protected from wind.
Sow into 7cm pots or modules 1cm deep
Winter Squash and pumpkins
in April and plant out in late May after the
last frost, cover with fleece or a cloche if
it is still cool. Mulch around the plant to
reduce moisture loss and reduce weed
growth, water well if dry and feed weekly
for good sized fruit.
Cultivars
Pumpkins
Baby Bear – grown at Beechgrove
producing fruit of approx.. 1 kg. The seeds
can also be eaten and have a ready salted
taste so try before you add salt!
Jack of All Trades – a large, fruited pumpkin.
Mars F1 – fine for soups and curries.
Squash
Harrier – bred to ripen early, the best crops
are grown in tunnels.
Sweet Dumpling – small fruited green and
white fruit.
Turks Turban – good for storing (mine
stored well last year).