Zucchini

Gardening is seasonal and cyclical and I am back at sowing zucchini.  It really doesn't matter what type of squash, zucchini, that I want to plant, the method is the same.  This season, I plan to save some of my seeds so it is important that I sow open-pollinated seeds and that, at a minimum, do not let the growing vines with blooms touch another types of squash.

In other words, I am sticking to the same kind.  Depending on the space in my garden, I will keep the Summer Squash and the Zucchini as far away from each other as possible.  I have even considered planting them at different times in different garden plots.

It is recommended that the squash seeds be planted in hills, in small mounds, with a ring about a foot in diameter, around each hill.  The purpose for the ring, or circle, around the seeds in the hill is to catch the water and divert it to the roots.  It will do the same for common garden fertilizer and other nutrients.  It also prevents the fertilizer to come in contact with tender plants and prevent burns on their leaves.

It takes about 7 - 10 days for squash to germinate and 50 days to harvest time.  Considering how large a mature squash plant reaches, I try to give it plenty of room to grow.

After germination and the plants look hale and hearty, it is time to thin them out.  It's difficult for me to just pull the less developed plants and toss them onto the compost pile.  I have left them alone in the garden in the past to let the fittest survive.  But less is more, isn't that the saying?  I would leave two or three plants left standing and remove later if necessary.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

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The Fine Print:  I use my blog as a journal to record what is going on in my Back Forty Garden and Park.  It is not my intention to tell you how you should gardening, grow your fruit and berries, herbs and vegetables, cook, or take care of yourself. The content is my own ramblings and the pictures are my own unless otherwise stated.  I hope, however, that I have sparked some interest in gardening and related subjects, but it imperative that you do your own research.