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If you happen to’re hanging out on this board, likelihood is you’ve observed the occasions of the previous few years. Shortages and inflation are hitting everybody laborious and curiosity in gardening is exploding. Many have determined to develop their very own meals, even when solely somewhat, with the concept something they put into their mouths that weren’t bought can solely assist.
Good! However what will we develop, and the way? I’ve written about starting from seed here and when to plant your seedlings outdoors or not here. Most lately, final week, I wrote about growing tomatoes, on this article, I’ll focus on rising squash, a really versatile and high-calorie vegetable.
What are the differing types?
Squashes are available summer season and winter varieties. Summer time varieties embrace zucchini, golden/summer season squash, and patty pan/scallop. They arrive in lots of colours in addition to straight neck and criminal neck types. These are usually quick maturing varieties, usually maturing in 60-70 days versus the winter squashes that take 100+ days to mature. For a terrific record of sorts together with their historical past go here.
Winter varieties embrace butternut, acorn, delicata, spaghetti, and plenty of extra. As an apart, pumpkin from a botanical standpoint is a gourd, not a squash, however it’s included in lots of squash lists even so. For a terrific record of winter varieties with footage, go here. Neither record is all-inclusive. I for one am attempting Hopi pale grey squash this 12 months, a Southwestern winter selection whose seeds are very laborious to search out. If it really works out I’ll embrace the seeds in each my annual swap and reward to my native seed library.
How do I develop my squash?
Choice is, as with different greens, dependent upon each rising season and meant use. I discover it greatest to begin my vegetation indoors since my rising season is that if I’m fortunate, late Could-October. Squashes are frost-sensitive vegetation, which means that even a light-weight frost within the 30s F/0 C will kill them.
Whereas some gardeners with longer rising seasons might be able to direct sow these, these with shorter seasons will seemingly should both begin them indoors or purchase transplants regionally with a purpose to reap a superb harvest. Yow will discover extra filth on rising and agricultural places within the Dwelling Agriculture Complete course here.
As for the place to develop them, I’ve had extra success rising within the floor than in containers. Most greens are heavy feeders and squash are not any exception. Most container mixes include solely NPK and not one of the secondary or micronutrients. Additionally, squash is a big vining plant. The vines run all over the place. They are often pruned at 15 ft or so however nonetheless, that’s a great distance!
Subsequently, I’ve had higher luck letting them run on the bottom than attempting to corral them on my deck in containers. Give them room to breathe and fertilize each month with a fertilizer that incorporates each NPK and secondary vitamins equivalent to sulfur (S), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg.) An iron (Fe) complement will solely assist, as each Fe and Mg are required to construct chlorophyll, the required construction for photosynthesis. They will also be staked, which can enhance airflow and lengthen plants. For extra about correctly staking them go here.
What might go incorrect when rising squash?
Squashes being cucurbits, they’re nearly a written invitation for powdery mildew. Even when the soil is well-mineralized and the vegetation sturdy, it appears to occur to me yearly. Powdery mildew is a fungus that impacts the leaves and when you see it, you’ll always remember. It may be slowed down through the use of copper fungicide however it would ultimately kill the plant. It’s principally a race to get what you possibly can from the plant earlier than the plant dies. Good airflow through correct spacing will assist. You may attempt neem oil should you catch the an infection early sufficient however actually, I’ve had little success with this.
One other big squash pathogen is the squash vine borer, a bug that lays its eggs on the base of the plant. The larvae then burrow inside the hole stem, consuming as they go and destroying the plant. This may be managed by planting as early as doable to keep away from the lively season. For a extra detailed dialogue of this go here.
Squash vines are dioecious, which means that there are each female and male flowers on the identical vine. In contrast to cucumbers, the flowers are big. To inform the distinction, look beneath the flower. The feminine has an undeveloped fruit. She’ll even have a receiving kind within the flower, whereas the male flower with the pollen on the anthers appears to be like like one thing that dangles, solely in plant kind.
If you happen to’re feeling adventurous, squash flowers will be hand pollinated. Use a small paintbrush to take pollen from the male anther and twirl it into the feminine stigma. Remember to put as a lot pollen as doable into the stigma as a result of an under-pollinated flower will abort its fruit. Texas A&M offers a pleasant pictorial of the hand pollination course of here. Extra info on the most typical illnesses of squash will be discovered here.
What do I do with all of it?
Rising squash is simply the 1st step. As to be used, after all, they’re for consuming! However how, and easy methods to protect them over the winter? Summer time squashes equivalent to zucchini make nice pickles and are fairly yummy stir-fried with butter and a little bit of garlic. Golden and patty pan squashes are additionally nice stir-fried and make a beautiful relish! Many recipes can be found on-line in addition to within the Ball Blue Book, or you possibly can take a look at Daisy’s list of books on preserving foods. Right here’s an article on using zucchini.
Canning squash isn’t thought-about secure until in one in every of these types. Freezing it really works very nicely. Squash for freezing is cooked, then reduce up and bagged as quickly as it may be safely dealt with. I discover it helpful to label my luggage beforehand with selection and dates. I additionally discover that winter varieties lend themselves higher to freezing than summer season varieties do, which are likely to get mushy upon thawing. I freeze my zucchini as bread. One other solution to put up winter squash is to wipe the skin with vinegar, pat it dry, and rub in some olive oil. Then retailer them on a shelf within the pantry or your kitchen.
Final 12 months I had 13 winter squashes to protect, and I don’t like the thought of an influence outage ruining all of my frozen meals. By cleansing and rubbing with olive oil, my squashes stayed good by the winter. I lastly gave the final 4 away as a result of meals fatigue is a Factor and I couldn’t bear the thought of consuming squash at that time! Maintain that in thoughts whereas constructing your pantry.
Have you ever tried rising squash?
I coated the fundamentals of rising one of the crucial nutritious and high-calorie greens which might be very versatile in cooking and straightforward to protect!
Have you ever given rising squash a attempt? How do you develop yours? Has something gone incorrect with it? What occurred? What varieties do you plant, and the way do you protect your harvest? Let’s focus on it within the feedback!
About Amy Allen
Amy Allen is an expert bookworm and scholar of Life, the Universe, and Every part. She’s additionally a Grasp Gardener with a BS in biology and has been rising meals on her small city lot since 2010.
