Growing veggies?

[Alex11golfer]

Well i have a garden and i want to start growing viggies like zuccini and acorn squash for the guy because he loves them but i dont know if i could use any fertilizer or pesticides because it might hurt him.

 

[icelore]

I grow a lot of veggies in containers. You shouldn't need to use fertilizer, but plant food would be nice. As for pesticides, don't use them. If you have bug of disease issues with your plants, use home remedies or, as a last resort, organic pesticides. Most varieties of squash, including zucchini, are pretty hardy though, and you shouldn't have nay issue! Worst problem I've had was stem mites one year (cured with diluted dawn dish soap and tea tree oil) and powdery mildew another year (cured with milk of all things). Squash have a really high yield too, so are definitely work growing! GL.

 

[Jayson745]

Last year we grew zuccini and summer squash for the beardies and superworms. Going to again this year as well. I have a few sprouts out there already, but I want to get a few more planted if it would ever stop raining. They really throw a lot of them if they get good sun and lots to drink when it gets dry out. I use fertilizer, but no pesticides. I use the kind of fert that goes on the soil and is slow release. They are little green pebbles. So they aren't getting sprayed on the plant or anything. I'm working on my first compost pile now. Sadly they use pesticides on pretty much everything you buy from the store, so its much better to do your own when you can. Also, pests can be a problem, but its FAR less likely in a home garden than a big field. Its even less likely if you dont grow them in the same exact spot every year (so I hear). Both times I grew them(in completely different parts of the state cause I moved in between grows), twards the end of the season they'd have these ugly grey beetles all over some of the fruit, but they dont eat it or harm it. I think they just like the smell or something and hang on out them. Its kinda weird. But they were still perfectly fine and didn't harm anything. Dont let the squash grow to big though, or they turn from yellow to gold and get really tuff on the outside with big hard seeds on the inside. I usually let them get bigger than the ones in the store, but not super big like they will get if you let them. You can let one grow to complete maturity if you want to collect seed for next year, but I think zuccini and summer squash can hybridize, so thats something to keep in mind if you grow both. We had a patch about 8 foot by 12 foot, and with lots of beardies, and tons of superworm bins, we ended up wasting a ton of it because we produced way to much. Every day we'd pick 3-6 big ones. I think pound for pound these plants throw more weight in food than almost anything could in the same space. Keep the plants spaced out properly though. I like to cram things in there and maximize space, but I've tried growing them 2 plants per spot and the overall yeld was far less in spots where I did that.

 

[Jayson745]

oh and be careful on days where its like 90 degrees out, because we almost lost everything because of that. I went out there and the plants all looked completely dead. Water will bring them right back, but probably not if it goes to far. I typically water in the evening so the sun doesn't just evaporate it away, but a mid day drink can save them in prolonged excessive heat.

 

[icelore]

oh and be careful on days where its like 90 degrees out, because we almost lost everything because of that. I went out there and the plants all looked completely dead. Water will bring them right back, but probably not if it goes to far. I typically water in the evening so the sun doesn't just evaporate it away, but a mid day drink can save them in prolonged excessive heat.

When it's hot out squash plants wilt their leaves to prevent scorching and too much evaporation. Since their leaves are so big it's a defense mechanism. They come right back open as soon as the sun goes over or it cools off!

Watering in the evening is definitely the way to go with all plants when it's hot though. It gives time for the root system to absorb the water as well as the fact that when water is standing on foliage, it get super heated in the sun and damages them.

 

[Jayson745]

No argument there. But wilting their leaves to that extreme cant be good. I should have taken a picture. I've had other plants wilt up a little when it scorches, but this was ridiculous. I'm just assuming that could go to far and damage things if it got to bad. Instead of risking it, I typically just water on super hot days. I'm no professional gardener though.

I didn't even notice your last sentence. Hmmm. I haven't had any damage from watering in the day, but that does sound quite plausible. Maybe if I get that insecure about them again I'll just use the hose instead of sprinkler and get the dirt only, to be on the safe side

 

[icelore]

Well, watering the ground around the roots isn't going to lower their temperature. When the leaves are folded because of heat, providing water doesn't give any great affect unless the ground is parched, in which case you could just mulch to keep that from happening.

 

[bobbycarp]

fertilizer is a supplement for your plants. Just like supplements you may be giving to your dragon. To avoid fertilizer it will take a few years of turning over your garden. I would also divide your garden in half if you want to avoid fertilizer. One half should be a cover crop like buckwheat and the other half you plant in. The following year you switch. Cover crop in the previous years producing plot and cover crop where you grew last year.