Planting distances

Dak · February 27, 2016

I'd love some advice on planting my squash this year. I have a 20 x 4 foot bed and I'm thinking of planting Papavero, Terromoto, Zucca Butternut, & Oregon Homestead.

If I space them at 5 feet apart, is it still recommended to plant in groups, like 3 or 4 plants per hill? Is 5 feet a reasonable distance or could it be less? If I plant just one plant per 5 foot spacing, should I plant in the middle of the row, or offset?

Thanks!

joseph · February 27, 2016

I plant squash seeds about 9" apart in rows 300 feet long... With about 8 feet between rows.

Dak · February 28, 2016

That is so cool, I can get away with planting more! No more store bought squash next year. Is that winter squash? Are your rows going n to s? Thanks for posting a picture, looks great!

joseph · February 28, 2016

My rows run East/West. That is only about irrigation water and the slope of the land

The row on the left is muskmelons with cucumbers at the far end. The row on the right is 3 species of winter squash, and some zucchini.

AlittleSalt · February 28, 2016

Dak, overplant them and then pick which plants you want to grow.

Worth1 · February 28, 2016

Anything that can stand to hang from a vine I grow vertically.
Worth

Dak · February 28, 2016

@AlittleSalt, I love your advice, I usually have to pull myself back from overplanting. Now I have permission!

@Worth, so nice to see you again! I suspect it is not a big thing for you to build supports, but that is not a place where I have any skill at all. Luckily, I have plenty of space for my squash to sprawl.

Usually it's not safe to plant out until May, but this year has been so strange, I'm half tempted to go ahead and plant in ground next month. I've got the gardening bug bad this year!

joseph · February 28, 2016

I cull about 15% of young squash plants shortly after germination. If they get off to a slow start in my garden, I don't want them shedding pollen into the patch, so might as well eliminate them at a young age.

Dak · February 28, 2016

Joseph, do you start inside? That's a really good thought about culling, thanks.

joseph · February 29, 2016

I direct seed squash about a week or two after the average last frost date.

Dak · March 2, 2016

Thanks, Joseph! I've been doing that too, but since I was so wrong about planting distances, I'm second guessing myself now.

February 27, 2016	#1
Dak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 494	Planting distances I'd love some advice on planting my squash this year. I have a 20 x 4 foot bed and I'm thinking of planting Papavero, Terromoto, Zucca Butternut, & Oregon Homestead. If I space them at 5 feet apart, is it still recommended to plant in groups, like 3 or 4 plants per hill? Is 5 feet a reasonable distance or could it be less? If I plant just one plant per 5 foot spacing, should I plant in the middle of the row, or offset? Thanks!

February 27, 2016	#2
joseph Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Cache Valley, N/E of The Great Salt Lake Posts: 1,244	I plant squash seeds about 9" apart in rows 300 feet long... With about 8 feet between rows.

February 28, 2016	#3
Dak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 494	That is so cool, I can get away with planting more! No more store bought squash next year. Is that winter squash? Are your rows going n to s? Thanks for posting a picture, looks great!

February 28, 2016	#5
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Dak, overplant them and then pick which plants you want to grow.

February 28, 2016	#6
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Anything that can stand to hang from a vine I grow vertically. Worth

February 29, 2016	#10
joseph Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Cache Valley, N/E of The Great Salt Lake Posts: 1,244	I direct seed squash about a week or two after the average last frost date.

March 2, 2016	#11
Dak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 494	Thanks, Joseph! I've been doing that too, but since I was so wrong about planting distances, I'm second guessing myself now.