Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Alarion 5/23/2011, 7:46 am

This is my first year attempting SFG, and as such, I started with some traditional rows this year. I tried getting some summer squash going because my wife loves them. The ones I direct-sowed in the rows are not sprouting at all.

When I was planning the squares with growveg.com's planner (same as at Jung's seed website, Jung is an affiliate for growveg.com) it takes up 4 whole squares. Yet it says I can plant 2 Cukes in a single square (I assume, if trellised). Pumpkin takes up a bit more.

Should I literally follow the spacing guidelines for SFG, which seems to be the case for most other plants? Or can you "get by" fudging it some? I assume for squash I really do need four squares per plant?

**Furbalsmom** 5/23/2011, 2:40 pm

If you are growing bush type summer squash, the minimum, in my opinion is 4 sq ft (2X2 if it is on a corner of your box), and Mel recommends 9 sq ft (3X3). We have members that grown their bush squash in a special 2 X 2 box, so if it bushes out, it does not interfere with other plants.

If you have vining summer squash, Mel recommends 2 adjacent sq ft. per plant. One reason for that much room for a trellised plant is because of the huge leaves on squash.

Vining cucumbers are 2 per sq ft if trellised.

Do you know the soil temperature in your row garden? The minimum soil temp for most squash is 60 degrees, and cooler soil might prevent germination,

Alarion 5/23/2011, 3:14 pm

great info, thanks! I don't know the soil temp - but the air temp has been 70-80s for the past week and a half or so, and was only slightly colder the two weeks before that (nights down to 50-55).

**Furbalsmom** 5/23/2011, 4:54 pm

I has taken a week of mostly sunshine for our soil temp to go from 53/54 up to 58/59 here on the cool, cloudy oregon coast.

I used my meat thermometer to check the soil temp, then cleaned and sanitized it for kitchen use. I am going to have to break down and buy a thermomter just for the garden.

WendySue67 5/23/2011, 5:00 pm

I thought this guy's garden looked pretty awesome. He has an interesting way of staking and pruning squash that I am going to try this year. Saves on space and seems to have a ton of fruit growing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogPfOrJM0Ho&feature=player_embedded

Alarion 5/23/2011, 7:00 pm

Hmm interesting. I just stopped by Lowe's real quick and was looking at the picked over selection of squash in both Burpee and Ferry Morse brands, and none say whether they are vine or bush (or indeterminate or determinate). *Are* there bush style vs vine style? Or are they all vine-type? I am talking Summer Squash now Wink

If they can be trellised, and get one per square then that would be fine. I don't eat the stuff, but my wife does Smile

**Furbalsmom** 5/23/2011, 8:02 pm

Even on the Ferry Morse site, they do not indicate vining or bush for their summer squash.

Most summer squash is Bush Type.

Burpee offers 8 ball and Verte et Blanc as summer vining squash.

Other seed producers offer Cucuzzi, Tatumi, Trombocino as summer vining squash

Territorial Seed has Black Hawk, a vining zucchini

Alarion 5/23/2011, 8:28 pm

Thanks again. so much to learn! :scratch:

pattipan 5/23/2011, 8:43 pm

You might like to try these: Heirloom Lemon Squash

They ARE vining although Baker Creek doesn't include that in the description. Read this about them:

http://organicgardening.about.com/od/vegetablesherbs/ig/Heirloom-Summer-Squash/-Lemon--Squash.htm

pattipan

altagarden 5/23/2011, 10:57 pm

I put my zucchini seedling in the centre of a 3X3 area, BUT I plant spinach all around it. By the time the spinach is harvested the zucchini needs the space.

I have been sprouting squash, zucchini and pumpkin in seed trays indoors and it really does take a long time to sprout. Maybe 10 -12 days and of course it is warm in my home. So yours might still pop out. If it is too cold though they will just rot. Maybe take a sneak peek? Once they sprout, they really grow fast compared to little guys like lettuce.

Sponsored content

Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Re: Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Re: Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Re: Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Re: Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Re: Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Re: Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Re: Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Re: Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Re: Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants

Re: Squash, cukes and other "larger" plants


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.