Is it too late?

[sususanan]

Is it too late, in the south, to plant pumpkin, squash and marrow seeds directly into the ground?

[Flo]

Yes in my opinion - especially this year as everything is growing late.

[happyhippy]

Yes I agree with Flo.They would probably grow quite well initially,but the fruit will only be half grown when nights start drawing in and maybe frosts hit which would kill it.

[Green Aura]

I would agree too, but I've just been looking on a website that sells veg plants and their butternut squash plants were/are due for delivery in June.

[happyhippy]

Oh?Last year GA,my pumpkin seeds were slow to germinate for some reason.They took though well enough in July,but unfortunately I did'nt get to harvest any fruit as the frost killed them before they were large enough! Is there such a thing as frost resistant plants?

[Green Aura]

Dunno, hh, I've only grown squash in the polytunnel so that's not much help. I wonder if those long cloches (the ones like teeny tiny polytunnels) might do the trick.

[Odsox]

Is there such a thing as frost resistant plants?

No, none of the curcurbit family are frost resistant.
There are small bush varieties of courgette and butternut squash that can be grown in largish pots, that way if an early frost is forecast you could bring it indoors for the night.