Squash Questions

tlcmd · December 30, 2008

Any advice regarding summer squash varieties would be appreciated. My garden is around 1400 sq ft and will have cukes, tomatoes, okra, greens, dill, wormwood, greens, and beans as the primary crops. Since some of these share common pests and diseases, would appreciate recommendations for resistant yellow crook or straight neck squash varieties for piedmont NC (Greensboro).
Thanks,
Dick

Tormato · December 31, 2008

tlcmd,

Vine borers are the biggest problem for me. I'll borrow a line from the Hanson brothers... "Putting on the foil, coach". Wrapping the stems with aluminum foil does wonders, for me.

While most summer squashes are "pepo", the "moschata" types seem to have the most resistance to pests/diseases.

Gary

tlcmd · December 31, 2008

Gary,
Thanks. Would you please suggest a summer variety of "moschata" squash comparable to yellow crookneck.
Thanks,
Dick

Tormato · January 6, 2009

Dick,

I know of only a couple of varieties...

Zucchino Rampicante (Tromboncino)

and

Courge Longue de Nice

...neither that I've tried. I've heard that these will thrive where everything else dies.

Gary

tlcmd · January 6, 2009

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not big on squash, but my wife really likes the yellow crook and straight necked summer squash. Since we also grow cucumbers nearby (20 - 30 feet), I'm trying to find a disease/insect/mildew resistant tolerant summer variety which will not put my cukes at increased risk and vice versa.

Ruth_10 · January 6, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormato

tlcmd,

Vine borers are the biggest problem for me. I'll borrow a line from the Hanson brothers... "Putting on the foil, coach". Wrapping the stems with aluminum foil does wonders, for me.

Gary

Foil foils the stem borers? Please tell me you're serious.

That would be wonderful. When do you put it on? How tight fitting does it have to be? How far up the stem does it have to go?

Stem borers have ruined 90% of my squash crops the last three years and I would love to get a crop.

stormymater · January 7, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruth_10

Foil foils the stem borers? Please tell me you're serious.

That would be wonderful. When do you put it on? How tight fitting does it have to be? How far up the stem does it have to go?

Stem borers have ruined 90% of my squash crops the last three years and I would love to get a crop.

No kidding! Now that I know what the little red/black bee-like moths look like I 'm after them in the garden hard. Unfortunately their markings mimic "cow ants", a wingless wasp that I suspect is a beneficial but I KNOW can sting the p***ss out of you if you mess with it. I am considering trying row covers but those little moths seem to be out all day long so I don't know how helpful the covers would be. ADVICE welcomed!

Nightshade · January 7, 2009

Gary, would foil would also foil cutworms?

Ruth_10 · January 7, 2009

Nightshade, I'm not Gary but yes, foil will foil cutworms. It doesn't have to be foil, either. A cardboard collar will stop the cutworms as well.

Cutworms have to be able to encircle the stem (that's why larger plants aren't bothered by cutworms) and anything you can do to keep them away from the stem will work.

I have even read that just inserting a small twig into the ground next to the stem (touching it) will work.

December 30, 2008	#1
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	Squash Questions Any advice regarding summer squash varieties would be appreciated. My garden is around 1400 sq ft and will have cukes, tomatoes, okra, greens, dill, wormwood, greens, and beans as the primary crops. Since some of these share common pests and diseases, would appreciate recommendations for resistant yellow crook or straight neck squash varieties for piedmont NC (Greensboro). Thanks, Dick __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas

December 31, 2008	#3
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	Gary, Thanks. Would you please suggest a summer variety of "moschata" squash comparable to yellow crookneck. Thanks, Dick __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas

January 6, 2009	#5
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not big on squash, but my wife really likes the yellow crook and straight necked summer squash. Since we also grow cucumbers nearby (20 - 30 feet), I'm trying to find a disease/insect/mildew resistant tolerant summer variety which will not put my cukes at increased risk and vice versa. __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas

January 7, 2009	#9
Ruth_10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO z6a near St. Louis Posts: 1,349	Nightshade, I'm not Gary but yes, foil will foil cutworms. It doesn't have to be foil, either. A cardboard collar will stop the cutworms as well. Cutworms have to be able to encircle the stem (that's why larger plants aren't bothered by cutworms) and anything you can do to keep them away from the stem will work. I have even read that just inserting a small twig into the ground next to the stem (touching it) will work. __________________ --Ruth Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be.

December 31, 2008	#2
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	tlcmd, Vine borers are the biggest problem for me. I'll borrow a line from the Hanson brothers... "Putting on the foil, coach". Wrapping the stems with aluminum foil does wonders, for me. While most summer squashes are "pepo", the "moschata" types seem to have the most resistance to pests/diseases. Gary

January 7, 2009	#8
Nightshade Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: So. California Posts: 178	Gary, would foil would also foil cutworms?