23,948 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening
thank you for all of the help. I can't remember the types of zucchini of the top of my head. When I get home I will let you know.
They are two different varieties. I'm glad that the sliver leaves aren't concerning, and that everyone thinks they look good.
As Peter said my main concern is the wilting and brown spots.
You can look it up. A third of the worlds population is estimated to carry a toxoplasmosis infection. You've probable gotten it. In immunocompetent people it just causes flu-like symptoms. It is not dangerous, though pregnant women who have not been previously exposed to it (such exposure confers some natural immunity) are exposed to some fetal risk. Such immunity is normally tested for in pre-natal exams, I believe. Those who are immunocompromised can also be at risk for serious symptoms.
Now, that being said, warm blooded animals can carry the parasite, so if you're worried about cat poop, you'd better be worried about at least squirrel poop as well. Your cat is unlikely to have it if it is primarily an indoor cat, such that it can't eat the parasite-ridden meat outside.
Wash and or cook your food (especially that food whose fruit grows in the soil) and wash your hands after yo've been handling soil. It's that simple.
A few years ago I might have agreed with Dave about transplanting cucs but there are often good reasons for starting indoors. One of my best reasons is to know the germination of plants and adjust planting routine accordingly. Another is that the cucumber beetles won't be devastating them as they emerge.
I like to plant both ways but I'm leaning to indoor starting when a good stand is important. Like other cucurbits you want to transplant before they start growing into each other. Mine are in the ground a week and I'm expecting them to takeoff any time now.
I notice you're not answering where you live, so I'm guessing you've figured out that you put them outside way too early. :) Generally, you don't want to put tomatoes outside until the LOWS are consistently above 50 degrees, and peppers until the LOWS are above 55. That's typically a good couple weeks after your last frost date, unless your long range forecast says differently. Baby those damaged plants as an experiment to see how they do, but don't count on them as your main crop; you may not get much from them even if they survive. Since you say you have others in pots that are still OK, put them outside when the daytime temps are in the 70's, but bring them all inside at night until the lows are above 50-55. Peppers like it warm, warm, warm, even warmer than tomatoes. Good luck!
Hi, To answer your questions:
1)Site - Hill, tranche, or as is? see #3
2) Soil amendments or new soil? I have compost, shredded leaves, pit moss, can buy any mix they sell in stores. Watermelons love rich soil. I typically plant mine in Pure compost and will add 13-13-13 though out the year
3) Is it enough space for Sugar Baby? I can let it grow to my compost piles behind. If you can let them grow in your compost pile you will be happier in the long run. As long as they get 6+ hours sun
4) How many should I plant - one or two? If two - how close to each other? You typically want to plant them 36-48 inches apart. The vines can grow 10-25 ft in length so make sure you have the space (10 feet min).
Hope that helps and let me know what you decide.
In my (limited) experience, not really. You can do a bit of training, but the vines are brittle and difficult to control. You can kind of direct it in one direction but trying to keep it in one direction only I don't think will work out. If they can sprawl out in 3 directions, then ok that might work.
This is a picture of my Small Sugar pumpkins from last year, at maybe 65% size. This is 2 plants but mostly just one in the picture. As you can see, it is taking over. They had like 10x10 space in the garden but that wasn't even close to enough. They grew out over the Spirea, onto the ground.. it was a mess. That fence is 6' high.
This is in the garden when they were maybe 40-50% size - 2 plants
Just recently I had my own experience with Burpee selling something on an in-store seed rack but having no information online. So now if I come across something on a Burpee rack that sounds interesting and have never heard of before I'll look it up prior to buying.
Rodney
Thank you for all the answers. I am in zone 7a in northeast OK. I haven't had any trouble with birds eating my plants. I have never grown watermelons but have had success with cantaloupe. I may not have enough space for the watermelons but we'll see how it goes.
I also have a 12 inch deep bed, and grass did come up through all that soil, so I would definitely use cardboard. I don't know what type of grass I have, but I live in northern VA.
Actually, the cardboard works great. It deters grass and weed growth from below and provides a welcome attraction to earthworms that improve your soil. This raised bed has a layer of cardboard under it and it supports artichokes and has supported tomatoes.