Summer Squash Trial, 2003

Year in Photos (part 1)

Preparation | End of year project report | Squash varieties

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

meeting_2003-01 fava_beans_2_20020222 weeding-2003-01 cuttingcovercrop_03-03
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.
bed_preparation_2003-04 planting_backups-2003-04 seeded_with_covers_2003-05 germination_2003-05
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!
two_weeks_2003-05 planting_backups_2003-05 three_weeks_2003-06 largeplants_rowcovers
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!