help w/cukes and zukes!

aimeruni · May 16, 2012

NOTE: Zukes/cukes are bush types w/short vines; also are more tolerant of confined spaces, closer planting etc.

When I tried to grow squash plants last time, I overcrowded them. I’m wondering what size container will be large enough for one squash plant.

Was thinking of using a 10 gallon container, it's just a plastic storage container w/holes drilled in the bottom for drainage; has a depth of about 14"-18". Will be translucent w/color to reduce heat build up.

Is this too small?

noinwi · May 17, 2012

I don't know off the top of my head what the soil capacity is, but I have two wooden boxes that I use for zucchini plants(one in each)that are approx. 14"Wx28L"x4"H. They do fine, but I have to keep on top of watering. I've seen posts by other people that use 5gal buckets. I think your container should be fine.
The container I plant my usual 3 bush cukes in is about 4gal and I use sticks to make a tripod to tie the vines to.

Here's a photo of one of my zuke boxes from a previous season and I used the other box for the cukes that year.

Cukes with supports.

Crandrew · May 17, 2012

Looks like you had some powdery mildew on those cukes/zuch. But they seem to not be hindered

Looks good.

MikeInCypress · May 17, 2012

I believe the white markings are a characteristic of that variety of Zucchini.

MikInCypress

noinwi · May 17, 2012

No PM. The silver mottling is natural for certain varieties. PM never hits here until late summer or early fall. It's very windy here for most of the season which keeps everything dry. Once the cooler moist weather hits, the PM sets in. I can still keep the plants going for a while by spraying fungicide, but the season is winding down then anyway.

habitat_gardener · May 17, 2012

Hmm. I recently attended a talk by Renee Shepherd, where she gave away seeds for a new container zucchini (Astia). The packet says it was developed especially for container growing and small space gardens. But the minimum container size for one plant is 15 in. diameter by 12 in. high, which is about 1.5 cf = 10 gallons (for 15 in x 15 in x 12 in) or 1.23 cf = 8 g (for 15 in. diameter).

And I assume a regular type of zucchini requires more space.

You could try one plant in a 10g, but if you have something larger, your plant will probably be much happier.

aimeruni · May 17, 2012

Well I figured for one plant, a 10 gallon container would be too small, but I'm not sure.

Would a 30 gallon container be big enough? Also if I'm using the 30 gallon container could I plant more than one plant (w/zuke and cuke) without overcrowding?

If so, how many zuke and cuke plants would you recommend per 30 gallon container? The cuke is a bush type and the final spacing once they're thinned is 8" apt. per plant.

The 30 gallon container has about a 30"-35" length.

stonysoilseeds · May 17, 2012

noinwi those pics are great and the plants look real healthy

cornbreadlouie · May 18, 2012

I grew two zucchini plants in a 5 gallon bucket last year and they produced fine until the plants got really big and the days started getting shorter. You could probably do two or three plants in a 10 gallon container and have good production, but you'll have to keep on top of watering once summer gets here.

DogsandDirt · May 19, 2012

Here's a website about container vegetable gardening that's pretty helpful:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1647.html

May 16, 2012	#1
aimeruni Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brooksville FL, zone 9a Posts: 67	help w/cukes and zukes! NOTE: Zukes/cukes are bush types w/short vines; also are more tolerant of confined spaces, closer planting etc. When I tried to grow squash plants last time, I overcrowded them. I’m wondering what size container will be large enough for one squash plant. Was thinking of using a 10 gallon container, it's just a plastic storage container w/holes drilled in the bottom for drainage; has a depth of about 14"-18". Will be translucent w/color to reduce heat build up. Is this too small?

May 17, 2012	#2
noinwi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: PNW Posts: 486	I don't know off the top of my head what the soil capacity is, but I have two wooden boxes that I use for zucchini plants(one in each)that are approx. 14"Wx28L"x4"H. They do fine, but I have to keep on top of watering. I've seen posts by other people that use 5gal buckets. I think your container should be fine. The container I plant my usual 3 bush cukes in is about 4gal and I use sticks to make a tripod to tie the vines to. Here's a photo of one of my zuke boxes from a previous season and I used the other box for the cukes that year. Cukes with supports. Last edited by noinwi; May 17, 2012 at 02:56 AM. Reason: to add photo

May 17, 2012	#4
MikeInCypress Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 963	I believe the white markings are a characteristic of that variety of Zucchini. MikInCypress __________________ "Growing older, not up"

May 18, 2012	#9
cornbreadlouie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: SF bay area... north bay Posts: 242	I grew two zucchini plants in a 5 gallon bucket last year and they produced fine until the plants got really big and the days started getting shorter. You could probably do two or three plants in a 10 gallon container and have good production, but you'll have to keep on top of watering once summer gets here. __________________ Do You Like Worms?

May 17, 2012	#3
Crandrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: asdf Posts: 1,202	Looks like you had some powdery mildew on those cukes/zuch. But they seem to not be hindered Looks good.

May 17, 2012	#6
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	Hmm. I recently attended a talk by Renee Shepherd, where she gave away seeds for a new container zucchini (Astia). The packet says it was developed especially for container growing and small space gardens. But the minimum container size for one plant is 15 in. diameter by 12 in. high, which is about 1.5 cf = 10 gallons (for 15 in x 15 in x 12 in) or 1.23 cf = 8 g (for 15 in. diameter). And I assume a regular type of zucchini requires more space. You could try one plant in a 10g, but if you have something larger, your plant will probably be much happier.

May 17, 2012	#8
stonysoilseeds Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: cincinnatus, new york Posts: 341	noinwi those pics are great and the plants look real healthy

May 19, 2012	#10
DogsandDirt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dallas/FortWorth, TX Posts: 116	Here's a website about container vegetable gardening that's pretty helpful: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1647.html