[ Project Report | Squash Photos ]
McClellan Ranch 2003 Summer Squash Project
(Click images for larger view) 1-16 | 17-32
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[ Project Report | Squash Photos ]
McClellan Ranch 2003 Summer Squash Project
(Click images for larger view) 1-16 | 17-32 |
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| It all started with a planning meeting in January. | The winter cover crop of fava beans is doing well in February. These plants help put nitrogen back into the soil for the upcoming season. | Garden maintenance continues throughout the year, here's a photo of January weeding. | In March, the fava beans are cut down. |
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| And not just cut, but chopped up. | And then covered with manure for in-garden composting. | While we're working, we start checking for gophers (another activity which continues through the year.) | In April, we rototilled the garden, marked the rows, and made sure the trellisses were in place for the climbing plants. |
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| Wood chips were put down between the rows to keep the aisles walkable, and signs placed for the squash. | We seeded a complete set of squash in pots to serve as back-ups in case the in-ground planting didn't work out. (April 26) | The seeds were put into the ground on May 16, then covered with permeable row covers to keep birds and bugs away from the seedlings. | 8 days later we have seedlings popping up out of the ground! |
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| At 15 days, the seedlings are getting established. | We use our backup plants at this time to make up for varieties that didn't fare well after seeding in-ground. | By early June, 22 days after planting, every thing is coming along nicely. | In fact, at 3 weeks plus one day, many of the plants are on the verge of out-growing the row covers. Note how wonderfully flexible these coverings are! |
| Page created Saturday, October 25, 2003 |
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