Squash

Here are some tips for growing both summer squash and winter squash:

Site, soil type:	Both summer and winter squash need soil with moderate fertility. Squash needs full sun. Use well-drained soil.
Planting requirements:	Plant when the soil is at least 65 degrees. Squash likes warm summer weather. To get a headstart, plant indoors 4 weeks ahead and then transplant. Squash does not like its roots disturbed when transplanting. Squash will not tolerate frost.
Nutrition/Fertilizer needs:	Use ½ cup of a complete organic fertilizer when planting.
Water needs:	Keep the soil moist at all times.
Other tips:	Squash likes heat. Use row covers after planting to give them increased warmth if it’s cool. Put plastic down one week before planting to warm soil. Put holes in the plastic and put plants in the holes. The plastic suppresses weeds but allows sun to warm the soil. A foliar feed with fish or kelp formula every 14 days adds nutrition and makes plants more pest resistant. Summer squashes that start growing well, but then turn limp and succumb have not been pollinated. Usually the earliest fruit have this problem and it goes away once the bees have found the plants. Hand pollinate if the bees don’t seem to be doing the job. Take an artist’s paint brush and collect pollen by swishing the male blooms. Then brush on the female blooms. Don’t just grow any old variety of squash or zucchini. I’ve found that seed catalogs are fairly reliable when describing some squash varieties as “great tasting.” Also click here to see three varieties of summer squash that I really like. Winter squashes have varying storage capabilities. Acorns and the red squashes are delicious right from the field, but only last a maximum of 3 months. Spaghetti Squash is ready to eat when picked and will keep up to 3 months. Delicata and Sweet Dumplings can be enjoyed immediately after harvest, and store for 4 months. Buttercups are sweeter after a few weeks of storage, and will keep up to 4 months. Kabochas get sweeter with a few weeks of storage. The green ones will keep 4-5 months. Butternuts and Hubbards are better after a few weeks in storage and will keep to 6 months.

Insect Invasion?

Squash bugs? Cucumber beetles? Squash vine borers? Root maggots? Flea beetles? Cabbage worms? This product will help: Summerweight Garden Fabric 6' x 20' It also will help keep the rabbits and deer from munching your goodies.

Learn how to Improve your vegetables’ flavor

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A Great Hose…

I love my expandable garden hose! It's lightweight and easily moves around the garden with me. It doesn't get kinked or tangled. Hoses can be such a pain, even the ones that say they won't kink. And they are heavy and bulky and bothersome to wind up to make the garden neat. Not this one. Recoiling it is a breeze!
Find this hose here at Amazon.com.

Vinegar Kills Weeds!

Many gardeners report success with regular household vinegar. It has 5% acetic acid and 95% water. But for an even more effective weapon, vinegar with 20% acetic acid is sold as a non-toxic herbicide. I recommend experimenting with diluting the 20% vinegar to make it last longer. University studies say that 10-20% vinegar is effective. Vinegar is a quick-acting, non-selective contact herbicide and its residues degrade promptly in the soil. Foliar contact results in rapid dehydration of annual weeds and grasses, and top growth reduction of herbaceous perennial weeds and grasses. 20% vinegar may be applied up to two days before harvest. Find 20% vinegar here. 20% vinegar is non-food grade and is strong. Read application instructions carefully.

Critter Ridder

A motion-activated sprinkler WORKS to keep deer, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, dogs, and cats out of your garden. These sprinklers give a strong blast of water that lasts for 15 seconds. They have a sensor with night only, day only, and always on activation modes. One user says “My experience is that the sound of the sprinkler, and the sound of the water suddenly hitting plants startles and scares away the animals. It doesn't matter if the spray is aimed to actually hit the animal.” Here is a YouTube video of this action. At Amazon, you can find the Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler. It works well to detect and surprise encroaching critters.

Row cover for cold protection

Floating row cover is a lightweight blanket for your plants. It’s an easy way to extend your growing season. With row cover, your seeds will germinate faster and the plants will get off to a better start. The highest quality of row cover I’ve found is called Agribon. Agribon is made in several different weights. Agribon 19 offers several degrees of frost protection. I have had 12-15 degrees of protection with this product. Agribon 19 also allows 85% of light transmission. This product is for sale at Amazon.

Grow Great Vegetables

Tips, Tricks and Tools!

Squash

Here are some tips for growing both summer squash and winter squash:

Site, soil type:

Both summer and winter squash need soil with moderate fertility.

Squash needs full sun.

Use well-drained soil.

Planting requirements:

Plant when the soil is at least 65 degrees. Squash likes warm summer weather. To get a headstart, plant indoors 4 weeks ahead and then transplant.

Squash does not like its roots disturbed when transplanting.

Squash will not tolerate frost.

Nutrition/Fertilizer needs:

Use ½ cup of a complete organic fertilizer when planting.

Water needs:

Keep the soil moist at all times.

Other tips:

Squash likes heat. Use row covers after planting to give them increased warmth if it’s cool.

Put plastic down one week before planting to warm soil. Put holes in the plastic and put plants in the holes. The plastic suppresses weeds but allows sun to warm the soil.

A foliar feed with fish or kelp formula every 14 days adds nutrition and makes plants more pest resistant.

Summer squashes that start growing well, but then turn limp and succumb have not been pollinated. Usually the earliest fruit have this problem and it goes away once the bees have found the plants.

Hand pollinate if the bees don’t seem to be doing the job. Take an artist’s paint brush and collect pollen by swishing the male blooms. Then brush on the female blooms.

Don’t just grow any old variety of squash or zucchini. I’ve found that seed catalogs are fairly reliable when describing some squash varieties as “great tasting.” Also click here to see three varieties of summer squash that I really like.

Winter squashes have varying storage capabilities.

Acorns and the red squashes are delicious right from the field, but only last a maximum of 3 months.

Spaghetti Squash is ready to eat when picked and will keep up to 3 months.

Delicata and Sweet Dumplings can be enjoyed immediately after harvest, and store for 4 months.

Buttercups are sweeter after a few weeks of storage, and will keep up to 4 months.

Kabochas get sweeter with a few weeks of storage. The green ones will keep 4-5 months.