Keep squash up to speed
Another job at this time of year is maintenance on your squash. If you’ve fruit on the ground, it’s best to rest them on an old tile or brick. The thinking behind this is that the brick soaks up the heat of the sun, keeping fruit warmer, meaning it’ll cure the skin and help the fruit to keep longer in storage. It also keeps the fruit off the wet soil and stops it from suffering from any rot. While you’re doing this, it’s best to remove any leaves that cause shade on the fruit, which will help the sun ripen the fruit, plus it increases airflow to stop the spread of mould. If you grow climbing varieties, such as bottle gourds or larger squash, create a hammock for them so the weight of ripening fruit doesn’t pull them loose from the stem. This can be done easily with a bit of sacking and some twine, or you could even use an old handkerchief of bra if you feel brave!