It was way back in February (can you believe May is half over!!!?) that I deputized 16 Blind Pig & The Acorn Squash Reporters. Sow True Seed signed on as a sponsor for the Blind Pig & the Acorn’s garden again this year-and they generously donated extra squash seeds for me to share.
May is the busiest month of the year at work for The Deer Hunter and me. Between work, sickness, and rain it seems like we’ve gotten a later start on our summer garden than usual. But I’m proud to say my squash reporting seeds are finally in the ground! And I feel a huge sigh of relief about them being in the ground.
A few Squash Reporters @ Large have sent in their first report-see below.
- Julie in AZ: All of the seeds are up. I planted them on March 31st. So far so good. The crooknecks are up the farthest!! May 1st: The squash plants from Tipper’s seeds are up and looking strong! No vines or blooms on them yet; but they are looking good. We need to beat the heat out here for fruit to set. Wish me luck there.
- Lanie in western NC: My first update on the squash seeds you sent me: We have all of our seeds started in cups in a cold frame. The first seeds (of the ones you sent me) came up today, and I wanted to show you a picture (see above). Hopefully the others will be up in a few days. (Report date: April)
- B.Ruth in east Tennessee: Here is a picture of my Zucchini Squash, that was planted on April 25th…we planted three hills, three seeds to a hill…I picked out some bigger ones..and a couple of small seeds…I wanted to save the same balance for planting the bad day seeds….I plan to plant them today…I hope…I know I am late..on the bad day…The first sign of life was May 8th barely peeking thru in one hill….yesterday evening May 9th I took this photo…It looks like there is a small on in the next hill coming thru…..I know, I know there are many little weedy things coming up but I was afraid to pick them out until I know for sure which is the zucchini seedling….It seems to me that these seeds have sprouted way too slow…we’ll see how they do..All the good day/bad day seedlings of the other winter squash (which by the way were planted same day and bad later) are up to a rousing start. My husband said, (I haven’t been down yet to take a picture) the Thelma Sweet Potato squash all came up about the same time, just jumped out of the ground!
The Deer Hunter and I planted at least a mound of each of the test squash varieties (you can go here to see the list)…except the Winter Squash Pink Jumbo Banana…which I’m too scared to plant. I just cannot get my head around a squash that might grow to weigh 40lbs-but I guess pumpkins get bigger than that-so maybe I’ll plant one more mound for the Jumbos.
We also planted squash varieties sent to us by Blind Pig readers. Bill shared his orange cushaw, green and white striped cushaw, banana squash, and white cushaw seeds with us. Norma shared a heirloom blue pumpkin seed with us-that’s hails all the way from New Zealand. (THANK YOU Bill and Norma!)
If all our squash varieties are successful we may have to open a produce stand. I’ll keep you updated on their progress.
If you’re a Squash Reporter @ Large-please leave a comment and update us on your squash seeds.
Tipper
First: thank you, thank you, thank you (and Sow True Seed) for the 3 packets of seed which arrived in late March. I was so delighted! By April 24th, I couldn’t wait another minute and started 6 seeds each of the Improved True Green Hubbard, Sweet Red Greek, and Seminole Pumpkin in 3 inch pots. By May the 4th they were up. They have been sheltered in a pitiful little lean-to greenhouse while I waited for Blackberry Winter to pass. And now I must plant them out ASAP because they are getting too big for their tiny little pots. The first true leaves on the Hubbard plants are already 4 inches across. We are building a trellis for the Seminole Pumpkin because it is apparently quite a climber. The Seminole Indians would girdle trees and plant the seeds at the base. The vines would climb up into the dead trees where the little pumpkins would hang like so many Christmas ornaments. Both Hubbard and Sweet Greek grow pretty big. I really got myself into it this time. Will report back when the plants have made some progress.
All squash are up. The Crooknecks and the Greek Reds have blooms and are hearty. The Thelma Sanders Sweet Potato Squash look like they were planted months apart even though they were all planted March 31st. I am not encouraged by them. They were the ones I was most curious about too. If they do not get a growth spurt, they will likely not set fruit because of the heat here.
I’m one of the reporters…haven’t gotten mine in the ground yet, sad to say. Hopefully this weekend, if the weather and my body cooperate…
We ended up planting 9 plants total: 4 original summer squash, 3 cocozelle zucchini, and 2 summer black beauty squash. They all look great. They are slightly larger plants than the other squash plants we have planted. They haven’t bloomed yet though, but should soon!
Got my seed in the ground about 2 wks ago. So far the croockneck and straight are starting to come up. Still waiting on pink jumbo.
I think all we’re going to plant this year is Roma and Grape Tomatoes and Poblano Peppers. I plant them from seeds I get out of the vegetables we’ve eaten through the year before that I dry and save. They don’t all come up, but the seeds are the right price, and enough come up to satisfy the two of us. LOL
God bless.
RB
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It has been to cold to plant outside. We have a frost warning for tonight. Crazy weather. I started some inside, they are just sprouting. Hope that by Memorial Day, I can plant in the garden. Barbara
A produce stand! That would be magic, Tipper!
What I have observed is that people who create, must create!
Whether your wonderful garden, your family’s music and dancing,
all creations with the grace from above.
And I admire your community so for its collective participation.
Have a wonderful weekend, Tipper! :))
I really enjoyed today’s post, and I have been very busy with a variety of plantings. I planted Cushaw yesterday along with the usual cucumbers and yellow squash. I agree with Miss Cindy that a squash recipe swap would be great!
I always follow a plan to plant a variety, because a few vegetables always do well. I hope all our gardens do well as they are predicting high prices for produce this summer due to the draught.
I didn’t get a chance to read Garland’s post yesterday, but I was able to read it today–it was wonderful and sure brought back memories. Maybe the old recycling ways is why I have so much clutter. The thick string from my Virginia Best cornmeal makes wonderful ties for plants, and I hate to throw away a mayo jar.
Tipper,
My goodness what a beautiful yard!You can watch your squash grow from the deck. Our old deck, on the back of the house, went back to Mother earth! It was made out of old large used lumber, and might have had some interior rot or something already going on when we built it years ago…sooo we tore it down! We promised ourselves to build another but, our ’round’to-it got lost and we built raised beds instead, can you believe, in the front yard. After seeing the picture of yours, the beautiful beds, the roses, (the onions), and hearing the “joree’s” in the big tree, it makes me want another one!
After all this rain and cold we hope we can “paddle” down to the back garden today. Roy has been spooking deer everytime he goes back there. They are bedding down in a large thicket behind the garden. I was kinda worried about the “turkeys” but haven’t heard them this year back there. Roy made a “handy-dandy” enclosure for his cucumbers and okra this year to keep the varmits out. No, he didn’t protect my squash…so I hope they are doing OK…
I enjoyed this report post today and hope everyone has great luck with their squash plants. Cindy has a great idea for us to share recipes for squash. I especially would love recipes for the “savory” type winter squash!
Wonder if you could use it as a meat replacement (like mushrooms) or like “eggplant” for a noodle replacement in lasagna?
Thanks Tipper, enjoyed this post! Have a great day!
With such a nice crisp morning, this weather will probably be helpful. We had a nice rain this week in Caldwell County, no flooding. My seeds are flowers, and I see them beginning to peek out of the ground. Good gardening to all!
My family used to eagerly await the first crook-neck yellow squash “mess” from the garden! I’ll be awaiting these reporters’ “first mess” and hope all of you enjoy the yield of your squash harvest! As for me, I don’t have a garden now–except some flowers and maybe potted tomatoes!
Good work, all you faithful squash planters. I can see that this will be the year for searching out new recipes for squash. Tipper, maybe you can have a squash recipe swap her on the blog.
As always, a great big thanks to Sow True for the seeds!!