Vine crops should be in your garden ...

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Vine crops include cucumbers, muskmelons, pumpkins, squash, and watermelons all of which are similar in their growing requirements. These vine crops all require a rather large amount of space and will not always fit into a smaller garden; this is true especially with pumpkins and watermelons. An important thing for the home gardener to keep in mind is that there is almost always a place in most gardens for at least some bush squashes and possibly a few hills of cucumbers.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are a warm weather vine crop. The may be grown during the warmer months over a wide portion of the country, however the extreme heat of midsummer in some places is too severe. Cucumbers demand an exceedingly fertile, mellow soil high in decomposed organic matter from the compost pile. Also an additional application of organic matter and commercial fertilizer is advisable under the rows or hills. Always be sure the organic matter contains no remains of any vine crops; as they may carry injurious diseases. Planting marigold, nasturtium and savory along side the cucumbers will help repel insects that thrive on cucumbers,

For early cucumbers the seeds may be pre-started and moved to the garden as seedlings after the danger of light frost is past. During the early growth and in cool periods, cucumbers may be covered with plant protectors.

In the hill planting method, the hills should be least 6 ft. apart each way, with the plants thinned to two in each hill. Is always wise to plant 8 to 10 seeds in each hill, and then thin them to the desired need. Cover the seed to a depth of about one half inch. If the soil is inclined to bake or harden, cover the seeds with loose earth, such as a mixture of soil and coarse sand and which will keep the soil friable and not prevent the cucumbers from coming through.

Cucumbers need constant care to prevent destructive attacks by cucumber beetles. These insects not only eat the foliage but also spread cucumber wilt and other serious diseases. Success in growing cucumbers is extremely dependent on the control of diseases and insect pests that attack the crop.

By removing the cucumbers before the hard seed develop, you will increase the life of the plant and also increase your yield.

A quick guide to companion planting

Gourds

Gourds technically are vine crops requiring the same basic growing requirements as squashes and pumpkins and should receive the same general treatment except that certain species require some form of support or trellis to climb on.

Gourds are used in making dippers, spoons, ladles, and many other kinds of household utensils. They can also be used for birdhouses and the manufacture of calabash pipes. But they are of interest mainly due to their ornamental and decorative possibilities. The thin shell or hard-drying gourds are the most durable and are the ones most commonly used as decorations. The thick fleshed gourds are more in the nature of pumpkins and squashes and are very perishable.

The thin shell gourds are picked and cured at the time the shells begin to harden, the fruits become lighter in weight, and the tendrils on the vines near the gourds begin to shrivel and dry. For best results, give the gourds plenty of time to cure. Some types require six months to a year to completely cure. All types of gourds should be handled carefully. Bruises discolor them and may cause them to soften and decay

Squash

Another vine crop is squash which is one of the most commonly grown garden plants. They do well in practically all parts the United States where the soil is fertile and moisture sufficient. Although sensitive to frost, squashes are heartier then melons and cucumbers. In the warmest parts the South they may be grown in the winter. The use of well rotted composted material thoroughly mixed when with the soil is recommended.

There are two classes of squash, summer and winter. All of the summer squashes must be harvested while young and tender, when the rind can be easily penetrated by the thumbnail, they are ready to pick. The winter squashes have hard shells and are well adapted for storage.

Summer varieties should be gathered before the seeds ripen or the rinds begin to harden, but winter squash will not keep unless well matured. They should be taken in before a hard frost and stored in a dry, moderately warm place. Under favorable conditions some varieties may be kept until midwinter.

To view a map showing the gardening zones of North America, click here.

To view a chart which outline optimum planting temperatures and the number of days for your seeds to germinate, click here.

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