General notes: Consider reordering the cucumber bed: Honeynut | Watermelon | Slicing Cucumbers | Pickling Cucumbers | Pumpkins. For all squashes, get organized early to treat borers and mildew regularly and systematically. Consider switching trellises for winter and summer squash to better access radishes in front of cucumbers.
Cucumbers did better than last year, but still suffered from wilt. Experimented with planting summer radishes to deter beetles; may have helped (not as many seen this year), but certainly didn’t hurt.
Honeynut squash failed this year. Seedlings were fine, but they produced few squashes, which were small and all taken by critters before fully mature. If growing again, cover squashes with mesh bags.
Pumpkins were hit by vine borers and mildew, produced 1 pumpkin per plant.
Watermelons were better this year, good quality and reasonable size. Sprayed with Serenade for mildew. First harvest was early, and harvest lasted 9 weeks!
Winter Squashes did not have a great year. Squash Vine Borer eggs started appearing in June and continued through the growing season. Experimented with hand pollination. Critters nibbled at squashes; covering with mesh bags helped. Sprayed w/Serenade but didn’t keep track… try to be more systematic next year. Research different squash types and varieties to grow with butternut.
Zucchini and Yellow Squash did well and were productive. Both plantings got off to a good start and the first crop lasted into November! Planted seedlings in a soil basin to retain water. Vine borers were less of a problem due to lots of work: early removal of eggs on stems, injections, and surgeries. Dunja plants did better than Success; consider only growing Dunja next year? Try experimenting with upright supports to keep plants off ground.
