Where should I put my Zucchini?

bvarbel 4/1/2013, 11:02 pm

I'm new to SF gardening. I just built my first garden with netted frame. The four spots by the frame are taken. I have 2 interior spaces and one edge (non netted) available.

I was thinking about training the zucchini from the edge out of the garden and onto my yard to ramble. Can I do this? Growing up we let our zucchinis ramble all over the garden.

Any ideas or recommendations. I love zucchini squash.

meatburner 4/1/2013, 11:13 pm

Glad you love zucchini squash. No clue what you are referring to from there.

bvarbel 4/1/2013, 11:27 pm

meatburner wrote:Glad you love zucchini squash. No clue what you are referring to from there.

I have been reading posts about zucchinis being trained on trellises and poles. But I don't want to do that. I would rather just train it to ramble. I'm not familiar with how it grows or if this is possible. Can someone let me know if I can train the zucchini to grow outside the garden? They look like monsters.

meatburner 4/1/2013, 11:40 pm

If you are not familiar how it grows, why do you want it to ramble all over the yard versus containing it? Just asking what you are thinking if you don't know how it grows. Have you read something somewhere that thinks it is better to do it one way or the other?

**walshevak** 4/2/2013, 12:23 am

I'm trying to read between the lines and I think what you are referring to is the fact that zuchinni plants get so big they will take over a square foot bed. I plant my squash plants in the middle of 2 squares either at the corners or on the outer edge of the bed. When the plant gets big enough I sorta let it "fall" over the edges and grow into the space around the bed instead of allowing it to take over more of the bed than it's allotted 2 squares. It may take a little pruning of the leaves that are on the inside area of the bed. In order to keep the squash out of the dirt, put weedblock, or newspaper or mulch under where the plant is spreading. Last year I put a 2" layer of pine needles out about 2-3 feet on one side of a bed and let the watermelons vine over that area, but the plant roots were in the SF bed.

Kay

bvarbel 4/2/2013, 1:57 am

meatburner wrote:If you are not familiar how it grows, why do you want it to ramble all over the yard versus containing it? Just asking what you are thinking if you don't know how it grows. Have you read something somewhere that thinks it is better to do it one way or the other?

I'm 36, my experience with zucchini was when I was 9 or 10 when my parents had a garden. I just remember this huge plant rambling all over the place. I'm not exactly sure how it grows, only that I remember it taking a lot of space. I want to grow it, but not sure how to adapt it so it doesn't take up so much space.

bvarbel 4/2/2013, 1:59 am

walshevak wrote:I'm trying to read between the lines and I think what you are referring to is the fact that zuchinni plants get so big they will take over a square foot bed. I plant my squash plants in the middle of 2 squares either at the corners or on the outer edge of the bed. When the plant gets big enough I sorta let it "fall" over the edges and grow into the space around the bed instead of allowing it to take over more of the bed than it's allotted 2 squares. It may take a little pruning of the leaves that are on the inside area of the bed. In order to keep the squash out of the dirt, put weedblock, or newspaper or mulch under where the plant is spreading. Last year I put a 2" layer of pine needles out about 2-3 feet on one side of a bed and let the watermelons vine over that area, but the plant roots were in the SF bed.

Kay

That sounds like a good idea. Now I'm thinking I might just make a separate area of the yard using some extra mel's mix and let it do its thing.

FamilyGardening 4/2/2013, 4:00 am

I think it also depends on if the zuc is a bush or vine type Very Happy

happy gardening
rose

johnsonjlj 4/2/2013, 8:27 am

bvarbel, my family also grew it while I was growing up and I have raised it for the last 2 years. The zucchini I have grown is a bush, but is HUGE!! Even though it doesn't "vine", the stem does continue to grow, but it is a large stem. I couldn't imagine trying to get it to go up a trellis. I usually reserve a 3x3 area for each plant. Below is a picture of one of my squash plants from last year, but the zucchini plants look almost identical. If there is a vining zucchini, I've never grown one.

Where should I put my Zucchini? 2012-012

Where should I put my Zucchini? 2012-012

**camprn** 4/2/2013, 12:08 pm

I looked for a vining zuke, high and low last year. There is not one that would 'climb' a trellis for example.

In regards to placing a zucchini plant. I would put it in its own space away from the SFG, because there is no doubt that it will crowd out everything else.

**llama momma** 4/2/2013, 12:17 pm

Or as Mel suggests pg 228 ANSFG version 2006, you could also find the seed catalogs toll free number and ask them what vining variety they carry.

quiltbea 4/2/2013, 12:22 pm

I've never seen a vining type of zuke either. I place mine in a corner taking up a 3 by 3 ft area. I try to get some lettuces and greens gowing around it in the beginning before it gets too big but later, it'll take up all the space, even being along the edges.
Where should I put my Zucchini? Zucchi11

Where should I put my Zucchini? Zucchi11

This was taken early in the season before it reached its full growth.

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