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Name: Sandy B. Ford River, Michigan UP (Zone 4b) (Zone 4b-maybe 5a)              Weedwhacker Apr 7, 2017 7:14 PM CST |
So, I had some time on my hands and was looking at stuff on Pinterest, and saw an idea for (what they called) growing zucchini vertically. Since most (or all?) zucchini are bush-type plants, it isn't exactly vertically, but the recommendation was basically to grow it in a large ring-type tomato cage, training the leaves up into the cage so they are supported off the ground. This sounds like a pretty good idea to me, since I'm always stepping on the leaves when trying to get to the zucchinis -- just wondering if anyone has ever tried it (or, even if not, what you think of the idea).  C/F temp conversion |
Name: Liz Shaw Gilbert, AZ (Sunset Zone 13) (Zone 9a) Arizona Gardener             LizDTM Apr 7, 2017 8:02 PM CST |
| People grow everything vertically, including watermelon. I say go for it! And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. -Anaïs Nin |
Name: Sandy B. Ford River, Michigan UP (Zone 4b) (Zone 4b-maybe 5a) Weedwhacker Apr 7, 2017 9:37 PM CST |
| Liz, the thing is... zucchini doesn't grow as a vine, it's a bush. I'm probably going to give this a try, though; if I could control the leaves up in a cage it would be a lot easier to find the zukes! C/F temp conversion |
Name: Caroline Scott Calgary (Zone 4a)         CarolineScott Apr 8, 2017 8:41 AM CST |
| Or grow them in large tall containers so they grow over the edges. |
Name: Liz Shaw Gilbert, AZ (Sunset Zone 13) (Zone 9a) Arizona Gardener LizDTM Apr 8, 2017 10:32 AM CST |
| Hmmm, when my dad grew zucchini, it was definitely a vine that laid down on the ground. I have bad memories of having to pick those things while the parental units were away one summer. Either way, if you google "how to grow zucchini on a trellis" you'll see that lots of people do it successfully. And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. -Anaïs Nin |
Name: Philip Becker Fresno California (Zone 8a)  Philipwonel Apr 9, 2017 11:19 AM CST |
| Yes ! sandy ! There all called bush. Probably cause they dont branch. Last year, my best producer, the dude grew like 8 foot long. Him and a couple others just found a sweet spot in garden. The others were desimated by either cucumber Beatles or leaf footed bugs that i never got a handle on. Im definatly gonna try it. Newer thought about doing it. I grow everything else in garden vertically. Heck ya !😁! GO ALL VERTICAL ! Spraying easier. Especially around stem, where them booger cucumber beetles get in ### Thank you for GREAT IDEAL.  NOW ! I got to get a bunch of tomato baskets. Troublemaker ! You!!!  😎😎😎 Anything i say, could be misrepresented, or wrong. |
Name: Sandy B. Ford River, Michigan UP (Zone 4b) (Zone 4b-maybe 5a) Weedwhacker Apr 9, 2017 1:25 PM CST |
There are some types that grow as a vine, like "Tromboncino" (and other summer squash) -- but I'm not really sure those are "technically" zucchinis. At any rate, the ones I grow do have a bush form, and they spread out pretty far from the center stem. Philip, I'm happy to say I've never (so far) had a problem with cucumber beetles or leaf-footed bugs, or squash vine borers. I hope I didn't just jinx myself by saying that!  Also, it remains to be seen whether using the cages is a great idea or not... I haven't really found Pinterest to be the most reliable source for gardening advice!  C/F temp conversion |
Name: Philip Becker Fresno California (Zone 8a) Philipwonel Apr 9, 2017 2:19 PM CST |
Sandy. My bush squash have a single stem. Hybird or not. There not the tromboncelies. I think they will grow longer because i have quite a long growing season. Some petter out. Some just want to keep growing, all season ! Sweet spot, i guess.  I usually plant 3 times. When first planting starts to bloom, i start 2nd planting. When 2nd planting starts to bloom, i start 3rd planting. I have a continuous supply of summer squash that way. I dont know why tomato baskets wouldnt work ??? Possibly not. Im thinking 😕!!!, now that you mentioned it. Some on ground, some in tomato baskets, and some on a cattle panel. Sound like a plan to you ??? 😎😎😎 Anything i say, could be misrepresented, or wrong. |
Name: Sandy B. Ford River, Michigan UP (Zone 4b) (Zone 4b-maybe 5a) Weedwhacker Apr 9, 2017 4:01 PM CST |
| It seems like it would be hard to tie them up on a cattle panel... wouldn't the leaves on the cattle panel side hold the rest of the plant too far away? Maybe I'm over-thinking it! C/F temp conversion |
Name: Linda Carmel, IN (Zone 5b)      mom2goldens Apr 9, 2017 4:56 PM CST |
| I wish I knew how to do this. I've tried several times, unsuccessfully. It always seems to way to grow the opposite direction from my trellis. I've even tried putting my trellis at an angle so it wouldn't have to grow straight up. Those vines just don't bend the way a cucumber does, and the leaves are so large it's easy to break them off when trying to train the vine up. |
Name: Stewart Pinehurst, Texas (Zone 8b)      PlantMania Apr 9, 2017 5:23 PM CST |
| @Weedwhacker Sandy, SOOOOOO sorry  I have been busy all weekend and have not had time to tell you what I am trying do this year.Acorn View 1  Acorn View 2  Zucchini view 1  Zucchini view 2  Summer Squash  I will say that it works and it doesn't work, I have used tomato plastic rings to hold up the plants BUT it does strain the vine by cutting into the tube stem. Not sure I will do this again , I was hoping to have tons of squash hanging down, but will only have maybe three or four of each hanging on the inside of the cattle panels but plenty more on the other side of the panel. Oma and Opa Living to Learn -------------------------- World Champion of Athletes Tongue -------------------------- |
Name: Sandy B. Ford River, Michigan UP (Zone 4b) (Zone 4b-maybe 5a) Weedwhacker Apr 9, 2017 6:00 PM CST |
| Hi Stewart - I really like the way you arched the cattle panel between the two planter boxes! Are those all bush-type squash that you're growing on the trellis? Although I'm intrigued by the idea of caging a zucchini, and definitely want to try it, if you want to get "lots of squash hanging down," I'd suggest going with vine types -- I have a similar trellis in my garden (made from concrete reinforcing mesh over a steel framework) that I've grown both gourds and winter squash on, very space saving as well as being quite a conversation piece! This was the year with the small gourds...  C/F temp conversion |
Name: Caroline Scott Calgary (Zone 4a) CarolineScott Apr 9, 2017 7:44 PM CST |
| I have seen people grow cucumbers and zucchini on old bed springs that were set up on an angle---not really vertical. |
Name: Philip Becker Fresno California (Zone 8a) Philipwonel Apr 10, 2017 8:11 AM CST |
| Caroline : howdy ! Zucchini on bed frame, at angle... Not really vertical ?😕? True !!! What should we call them ??? Tillted zucchini's ! Bed to fork zucchini ! Bedroom buddy zucchini's !😃😃 Sandy and Linda : howdy TWO !! I over think sometimes too. 👺 I gotta be like Nike. Just do it. One stake per plant. Plant a zuke a few inches away. Tie plant early. To train it. Use strip of old fabric or garden tape. Cut or loosen, so not to gertile, as necessary. Same principle with a trellis. Lots of ideals on google. I Googled zucchini on trellis also check out cattle panel trellis's. Y'all check them out. You'll get you're own ideals. Then... Just do it to it ! Let me know what ideals you come up with. Sometimes its hard for me to find the hole in this box i'm in.  😎😎😎 Anything i say, could be misrepresented, or wrong. |
Name: Linda SE Houston, Tx. (Hobby) (Zone 9a) "Godspeed, & Good Harvest!"    Gymgirl Apr 10, 2017 8:22 AM CST |
| That arch is simply amazing, and soooooooooooo much fun!!! I'm growing zukes and cukes (seriously) for the first time. I did cukes in my patented Earthboxes (EBs) last year, and, had they been trellised, I would have been more successful. Have purchased materials to make two cuke trellises this weekend, and have been toying with the idea of the bent cattle panel arch. Running out of garden space... My Blog: Fall/Winter 2011 Veggie Garden My Cubits: Bucket Gardening! **Beginner Vegetable Growers **Growing Veggies By Zone ** |
Name: Sandy B. Ford River, Michigan UP (Zone 4b) (Zone 4b-maybe 5a) Weedwhacker Apr 10, 2017 8:39 AM CST |
| Linda, cucumbers do great on a trellis -- especially the long slicing types, which grow really nice and straight that way! C/F temp conversion |
Name: Stewart Pinehurst, Texas (Zone 8b) PlantMania Apr 10, 2017 8:44 AM CST |
Are those all bush-type squash that you're growing on the trellis? So here is a funny story behind "Garden 2017" - it is now known as "Does anyone remember what this one is"? December - lines of seed trays on tables with labeled popsicle sticks (First mistake as many where taken) - February planting day - somehow, someone might have bumped into two trays of plants causing them to all land in one large pile of stems and roots.  Oma and Opa Living to Learn -------------------------- World Champion of Athletes Tongue -------------------------- |
Name: Sandy B. Ford River, Michigan UP (Zone 4b) (Zone 4b-maybe 5a) Weedwhacker Apr 10, 2017 8:54 AM CST |
| I've never had that exact thing happen -- but I've had unexpected things grow, particularly from seeds that I got from seed swaps... last year I planted what I thought was going to be a "mini pumpkin" vine (on my trellis) and it turned out to be what appeared to be some sort of bush-type zucchini. In 2015 seeds of what were supposed to be 'Sunburst' pattypan squash gave me these:  C/F temp conversion |
Name: Philip Becker Fresno California (Zone 8a) Philipwonel Apr 10, 2017 9:01 AM CST |
| Bird house gourds. You make any bird houses out of them ? 😎😎😎 Anything i say, could be misrepresented, or wrong. |
Name: Sandy B. Ford River, Michigan UP (Zone 4b) (Zone 4b-maybe 5a) Weedwhacker Apr 10, 2017 9:36 AM CST |
Philipwonel said:Bird house gourds. You make any bird houses out of them ? The one in the photo? That was some kind of squash cross... but I did grow a bunch of birdhouse gourds on the hoop trellis a couple of years ago; they're still waiting around for me to be inspired to do something with them C/F temp conversion |
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