Newyorkrita said:



I give away loads of them each summer!!

I wish you were my neighbor, Rita

In that case we both would either have a ton of zucchini or neither of us could grow them.

But if you were my neighbor here I could supply you with loads of summer squash.

LOL Rita.

When we first moved to IN, we built a house in a brand new subdivision, and most people were first time homeowners (with a lot of stay-at-home moms) that wanted to have gardens. So about our 2nd year there, several people had built gardens, and everyone planted zucchini. They grew so much of it, no one knew what to do with it. I remember several mornings walkng out to get the paper before leaving for work and finding a pile of zucchini on our front porch

Wish my neighbors now would do that

I love to eat the zucchini and summer squashes but really, how much of it can one person eat? So I give most of it away. Fortunately I seem to know lots of people that are more than happy to have it.

I sure planted a lot of it this year. That picture posted shows my squash bed which last season was a tomato bed. But this year summer squashes. 33 plants!!

Rita, check with the local food pantry also. Some of them are more than happy to accept fresh fruit and veggies during the season.

Unfortunately not here. They will only take canned goods. They won't even take boxed goods like boxed pastas. Has to be canned.

Those are the rules for our local on town place. I think the county one might have different rules but I only do my veggie drops offs in town. So I never checked.

Just sowing zucchini here.
One is a type especially for container growing.
I have seeds for a yellow and a black not yet sowed.

CarolineScott said:Just sowing zucchini here.
One is a type especially for container growing.
I have seeds for a yellow and a black not yet sowed.

I guess you direct seed them?

I start my own from seed but I start them earlier in cellpacks so I have plants to put out.

The zucchini plants have really grown!!

Yes, I direct sow zucchini and cucumbers as I had enough going on with tomatoes, peppers and eggplants.

CarolineScott said:Yes, I direct sow zucchini and cucumbers as I had enough going on with tomatoes, peppers and eggplants.

I just wondered if you had enough time to direct sow in your zone but you must or you wouldn't do it!!

It is certainly easier than the way I do it which is to grow my own transplants.

I did a bunch of pollinating again this morning. Have been taking the male flowers and pollinating those female flowers myself now for days. I haven't seen any bees around to do the job and if I didn't see and they already did it well then no harm in me adding to it!!

I get tired of setting out plants, and also run out of containers for transplants. Most cukes and zukes take around 60 to 70 days so we are okay for direct sowings. I do have covers ready should a cold snap threaten. Today , it is cuca melons-into pots that I got ready yesterday. Local greenhouses are selling 3 plants in a pot with a tomato wire for $17 CDN ! I have seeds from two sources and will keep a clear plastic bag over the tomato wire and pot.

I have a new camera and will take pictures of my potted vege garden.

CarolineScott said:I get tired of setting out plants, and also run out of containers for transplants. Most cukes and zukes take around 60 to 70 days so we are okay for direct sowings. I do have covers ready should a cold snap threaten. Today , it is cuca melons-into pots that I got ready yesterday. Local greenhouses are selling 3 plants in a pot with a tomato wire for $17 CDN ! I have seeds from two sources and will keep a clear plastic bag over the tomato wire and pot.

I have a new camera and will take pictures of my potted vege garden.

Sounds great!!

Most years I plant my zucchini and summer squashes here and there around the garden and I still have some like that. But mostly they are in one large bed. Lots of plants. I am really pleased with this set up. And since squash do like lots of watering and this is very near the hose I should be able to easily give them lots of water.

I have been going out and pollinating them each morning and it seems to have been successful.

After years of giving away zucchini because I just had to plant bunch of it, I finally learned to plant one gold and one dark green plant. Each hill gets maybe five seeds and thinned to one healthy plant. So what if a plant dies...neighbors have plenty to give away.

Oh yeah, the green plant has a blossom. So it begins.

I could never manage with just two plants like that. Lots of zucchini and summer squash eaters in my friends and neighbors. No they don't grow their own.

My squash is doing so well too. Thanks to hand pollination every morning. I've been sharing too. I think the best part about my vegetable garden is seeing my kids get so excited about picking and eating them and sharing with friends and family.

Picked my first zucchini's today. I knew I had ones coming on but I was surprised to see three that were ready to pick. So I picked them. And there will be more in a few days as there are plenty more smaller fruits still growing.

I took pictures but still in the camera.

Two squashes picked today.


I am so pleased with the squash bed. They are growing like crazy!!

what kind of squash are those, Rita?