2'x2' for summer squash

I fell like I am seriously UNDERplanting the 2'x2' squares I built for summer squash. One plant seems to be lost in the square by itself. I built them several feet apart so there would be room to grow...

And I am having a VERY hard time with the idea of taking the 3-pack of summer squash with 2 plants in each hole and snipping it all back to ONE plant...

I want to put at least 3 plants in the 4-square feet, in each of the back corners and front middle...?

I have 4ea 2'x2' beds and I'm planting Yellow Crookneck, Yellow Straightneck, Pattypan Green, and Zuchinni.

Has anyone grown more than 1 summer squash plant in a dedicated and separated 2'x2'? Successfully grown them?

(Oh, and this is 6" of 1/3 peat, 1/3 coarse V, 1/3 6-blend compost which is mushroom, aged horsestall leavings, black hen, black kow, nutri-fiber with bio-char and worm castings.)

I've grown summer squash in the corners of 4x4 boxes, and forcibly trained them to grow out the sides of the box and not into the adjoining squares. Because of how the fruit develops around the center of the plant, I'm pretty sure I lost production on the two insides of the square.

I hear where you're at, and suggest trying two per 2x2 box as an experiment.

Here's a pic (not my box) to help you visualize where you're headed!

Last year I grew my summer squash in 2 x 2 beds. One squash per bed. I believe I could have fit more than one per bed because I trained them on a stake and a cage. But they all got attacked by SVB so they never got hugh so I really am not sure.





I did have a lot of room in the corners of each bed because I removed the lower leaves. So I could have planted a smaller crop in the corners. If I had known Pollinator's solution (marigolds) to SVB, there was plenty of room for some dwarf french marigolds.

@yolos wrote: If I had known Pollinator's solution (marigolds) to SVB, there was plenty of room for some dwarf french marigolds.

I'm thinking that I had expressed several times - that DFMs are NO good for squash vine borers or pickleworm. They do work, though for SQUASH BUGS, cucumber beetles and some other pests.

You are right pollinator. I am so sorry. You did specifically say the DFM's were no protection against the squash vine borer.

yolos...your garden is beautiful!! wow!!

This is my first year so everything I'm doing is an experiment. I planted one squash per square and am training them to go vertical. They are in corner squares in case the vertical attempt fails. Then they will crawl out of the boxes! Here are a couple of photos taken April 27 and May 7. The weather has cooled off and they have been growing like mad. I will take photos tomorrow as an update.

April 27


May 7


A tomato and squash going vertical:

This is my first year, but Im experimenting with planting yellow crookneck and zucchini. Im planting one plant per 2x2.

@southern gardener wrote:yolos...your garden is beautiful!! wow!!

Thank you but that was last year, my first year and everything looked new and beautiful. I put three coats of raw linseed oil on my boxes, but after one year they still turned grey. The wheat straw had just been put down and now it is all brown. But I still like it and enjoy it very much.

@ETNRedClay wrote:I fell like I am seriously UNDERplanting the 2'x2' squares I built for summer squash. One plant seems to be lost in the square by itself. I built them several feet apart so there would be room to grow...

And I am having a VERY hard time with the idea of taking the 3-pack of summer squash with 2 plants in each hole and snipping it all back to ONE plant...

I want to put at least 3 plants in the 4-square feet, in each of the back corners and front middle...?

I have 4ea 2'x2' beds and I'm planting Yellow Crookneck, Yellow Straightneck, Pattypan Green, and Zuchinni.

Has anyone grown more than 1 summer squash plant in a dedicated and separated 2'x2'? Successfully grown them?

(Oh, and this is 6" of 1/3 peat, 1/3 coarse V, 1/3 6-blend compost which is mushroom, aged horsestall leavings, black hen, black kow, nutri-fiber with bio-char and worm castings.)

I have little doubt you can grow 3 summer squash in your 2x2 squares. I can say that once they grow, and they will grow your ease of access will get smaller and smaller even if you trim heavily, they will just keep growing. It will become harder for you to see and find all your squash. This may sound like a welcomed problem to have, I felt the same way, but after a few weeks/month of this, it gets old! I got tons and tons of squash, and trimmed heavily, but I also wondered if my yields could have been better with easier access, had I planted less in a small area.
I know it seems like a waste of real estate now, but those thoughts will disappear soon enough

@yolos wrote:You are right pollinator. I am so sorry. You did specifically say the DFM's were no protection against the squash vine borer.

Not that we don't all wish they were!

@RoOsTeR wrote:I have little doubt you can grow 3 summer squash in your 2x2 squares. I can say that once they grow, and they will grow your ease of access will get smaller and smaller even if you trim heavily, they will just keep growing. It will become harder for you to see and find all your squash. This may sound like a welcomed problem to have, I felt the same way, but after a few weeks/month of this, it gets old! I got tons and tons of squash, and trimmed heavily, but I also wondered if my yields could have been better with easier access, had I planted less in a small area.
I know it seems like a waste of real estate now, but those thoughts will disappear soon enough

OK, that's what I wanted -- someone to say, in effect, It'll be OK, trust your seeds. LOL.

One per 2'x2' and I'll put marigolds in the corners which will be crowded out later, but that's later.

Another thought, I think I'll put an "insurance" plant in a 5-gallon bucket on the other side of the garden, just in case I lose the one-each I'm planting in these squares.

THANKS ALL!

Sanderson, cool experiment, please keep us updated.

Last year I got my sack lunch ate by SVB and pickle worms. This year I am preemptively using BT to ward off the assault. Both predators hatch as a caterpillar type worm before invading the stalks so........
Here is hoping to get at least one squash.

I saw a video last week on defeating the Squash Vine Borer, using panty hose.
You cut the hose in about a 5-6" length, slip it down over a very young plant to the root section and pin its fullness with straight pins to keep it snug around the base. Re-cover the area with soil but leave some hose above the soil line. The SVB can't get thru the hose to attack your root system. Looked good so I'll be trying it.
You should also cover the plant with light insect barrier to defeat the squash bugs or they'll make short work of your plant.

@quiltbea wrote:I saw a video last week on defeating the Squash Vine Borer, using panty hose.
You cut the hose in about a 5-6" length, slip it down over a very young plant to the root section and pin its fullness with straight pins to keep it snug around the base. Re-cover the area with soil but leave some hose above the soil line. The SVB can't get thru the hose to attack your root system. Looked good so I'll be trying it.
You should also cover the plant with light insect barrier to defeat the squash bugs or they'll make short work of your plant.

I am SOOOOOOOO going to try this! I got 3 squash last year AFTER injecting with neem. BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I always have pantyhose that I have popped a toenail through!

GG