First-Time Squash Grower Questions

10 years ago

Tomatoes, lettuce, herbs I've grown for 35 years but this is my first attempt at squash and a few other veggies. I think I planted them too close! Renting a 20x12 ft plot and squeezed in fifteen tomato plants, a dozen bell peppers, half dozen Fresnos and two Habaneros (which I've learned are the hottest so I'll be giving those away to the brave). I also squeezed in some onions, cukes, peas, beans and six squash (Zucchini, Summer - whatever that is - but that's what the tag said), Acorn and Butternut). OK the question: is it ok to cut off some of the squash leaves? I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING! It's just difficult to get around in there, naturally!

Westy

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

myluck
10 years ago
I've been cutting leaves off my butternut to keep them clear around my other plants. And they are still growing. I cut them off at the vine. I think it makes them grow longer vines. "There goes the neighborhood"
nancyjane_gardener
10 years ago
Well, first of all.....6 zucchinis???? Are you nuts? Or do you have a family of 20 or so?
Second, do you have the SVB in your area? I don't , so I don't know if that has anything to do with your growing conditions.I'm not sure if cutting the vines might invite the bugs or not.
Out here on the best (west) coast, I have chopped the leaves away with no problems. But as I say, I don't know if this is a good idea if you have the beetles in your area!
Happy Gardening! Nancy
Related Discussions
First time peach grower question
Q
Comments (2)
P...this is an interesting question. I suspect this is partially due to the specific varieties involved...and the general weather conditions. Unusually bland weather slows down many processes such as flowering. Don't panic.
...See More
First time Garlic Grower, several questions
Q
Comments (2)
I cut the stalks off my elephant garlic before it could flower, which is supposed to make the plant put more energy into forming the bulb. Maybe this is why your bulbs ended up small. The immature flower stalk is tasty in stir fry. I'm afraid your replanted bulb might not make it since when you dug it up, you probably tore off most of the roots. You should probably leave the rest of the plants in the ground until they are more mature. The little bulblets can be planted, but it takes longer for them to grow than the cloves from the main bulb. I'm saving mine and will plant them, but will probably eat them as green garlic. Keep in mind that elephant garlic is not a true garlic but is actually in the same species as leeks. If you leave leeks in the ground long enough, they will also make similar bulblets around the base of the main stalk. You might want to read up on leeks to see what to do with those seeds. I have never heard of people planting elephant garlic seeds, but if you want to try maybe you can treat them the same way as leek seeds.
...See More
Name this Brom. First time grower and questions
Q
Comments (2)
Aechmea fasciata..seeds won't form unless the flowers are pollinated. you can search this forum using 'hybridising" and many pages on of reading material will be at your finger tips
...See More
First time pumpkin grower questions
Q
Comments (2)
Okay thanks so much for your reply planetes :) I am leaving them on the vine until they are very orange. I just hope it doesn't kill the plant because i have a ton of new little pumpkins starting to grow !
...See More
Carole Westgaard
Original Author
10 years ago
I lauged out loud, Nancyjane_gardner! NO - but I do have all three adult 'kids' out here - which is why we moved from Illinois to Boulder, CO. Totally different growing conditions needless to say. I've never seen tomatoes get so tall so fast (lotsa sun here and of course we can almost touch it at 5,000 feet) - but yes, I had no clue how many squashes would be produced by each plant! I've baked so much zucchini bread I should be selling it at a stand. My next recipe attempt will be a quiche with sliced squash! I'm desperate. Anyway, thanks for your help - I will be removing some leaves tomorrow just so I can see through the jungle. I don't know what SVB is but I've seen no bugs or evidence of any.

Oh - Myluck - I think you're right! The vines are going nuts on the two plants I've cut leaves off of - interesting.

Westy
Lisa.from.CO
10 years ago
westy1941, i'm just south of you near Golden. This is my first year planting pumpkins and cukes, and they're taking over the backyard! I'd also like to know if we have any major concerns here in CO with SVB! Being new to this forum, I've started reading many threads and quickly became nervous that they would ruin my cute pumpkins LOL. I've been checking for damage regularly. So far I've just been battling powdery mildew...yuck!

Your story reminds me one year my mother-in-law had so many zuks, she started to get creative with her bread recipes and decided to try a chocolate version. We though she was crazy, but it turned out to be the favorite of the family. Funny!

-Lisa
gjcore
10 years ago
Squash Vine Borer is not much of a problem in Colorado. I've never had them and doing a search on The Rocky Mtn. Gardening forum doesn't bring up any relevant hits.
myluck
10 years ago
Grow buttercup squash and you will think butternut squash are quite tame. Vines everywhere. OMG!!!! And they grow faster than you can walk
Carole Westgaard
Original Author
10 years ago
Woa - Lisa in Golden!!! Chocolate zuke bread sounds fabulous! If you have the recipe, let me know - I'd love it. Otherwise, maybe I just add some melted choc bar? I also thought of adding mini choc chips like I do for banana bread - maybe even adding a banana. And that;s what I suspected, gjcore - no SVB in CO, because I have seen absolutely NO damage from anything (except baby bunnies who squeeze through the tiniest of holes in our 'critter prevention' fencing. Couple of bites out of the almost-red tomatoes. Also - I'll have to see if I can find buttercup squash seeds next year - actually I've never heard of it and I thought I knew everything! I've never even seen it in the grocer's. Looked for pattypan squash seeds this spring too, but no can find. Thanks to all of you! So nice to have friends close by doing the same thing. I guess we are lucky we don't have SVB here but the heat sure is a challenge - and they tell me this is nothing - that this is a great (cool) year - and way more rain than normal.

Westy
User
10 years ago
Westy - you need more space. LOTS more space.
Carole Westgaard
Original Author
10 years ago
I know we need more space - this is our daughter's condo in Rock Creek area - we're building in Erie but the lots still aren't big enough for me - 25 feet between houses - shallow front yards, back yard is like a large city lot. I wanted to go to the mountains - but it's WAY more expensive up there and Colorado ANYWHERE is more expensive than Illinois. I belong in the north woods of Minnesota where I was born! (except the season for growing veggies there is about 3 months.

Westy