Summer Squash Trial, 2003

Year in Photos (part 2)

Preparation | End of year project report | Squash varieties

(Click images for larger view) 1-16 | 17-32

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A week later, on June 14th (five weeks after seeding), the first fruit starts to form. At six weeks, the squash plants are well established, the row covers have been off for a week, and we're waiting for squash! Here's a look under the leaves at 6 weeks, showing how the squash are coming along. Another view, this of a Sunburst shortly after pollination, also at 6 weeks.
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At 9 weeks we have a nice variety of squash to show for our efforts, and harvesting is in full swing. A view of the trellises at 9 weeks; looking for squash in the dense foliage. At this time (9 weeks), we're out in the garden 3 times a week harvesting fruit. The garden in early August, 12 weeks after planting. The plants are at their peak.
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14 weeks into the season, we hold an open hous to share the fruits of our labor. Here's a view showing the full length of the table set-up for public tasting. The open house included tours of the garden, starting here with an overview of work-to-date. By the time of the open house, some of the plants are showing early symptoms of powdery mildew; a sign of things to come.
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Two weeks later, most of the plants have powdery mildew, many of them over most of the plant. Another 4 weeks (October 11), the garden shows the results of the powdery mildew infection; susceptible plants have been decimated, leaving the resistant varieties less touched. With the squash yield down so much, we pull up the plants to prepare for next year. The very next week, we prepare the beds again, and plant another winter cover crop of beans. The cycle will continue!
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