Vegetables: Crooked Neck Squash - zone 9

Replies: 47 Views: 514

Author	Comment
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) July 9, 2008 11:14 AM	Hello, Help - I am definitely a beginner. We just moved into a house that has raised garden beds in the backyard. Of course we spent our first few weekends, filling them with fresh dirt and planting, planting, planting. Zone - shmone - we want to see something GROW! :) We recently purchased and planted two different groups of yellow crooked necked squash plants. One group is stunted in growth, the leaves are yellowing - but they are flowering like nuts. The second group is very green, growing like nuts, but no flowers. And as green as can be. I have attached a photo - Why are they so different? What should I do if anything? Any and all advise would be helpful - thanks for reading! Oh - and one more thing - when I see those brown leaves - should I remove them? By instincts tell me that I should - but I am not sure. View Larger
linux_guile Pueblo, CO July 9, 2008 1:58 PM	Squash dosnt like having its roots jarred, chances are those plants went into some transplant shock when being put into the garden, give them a few weeks and they should get going. The plants are so young that all of the flowers you are seeing are more than likley male flowers. females flowers will have a small bump at the base that will turn into the squash, if they turn yellow and fall off they are not getting pollinated and you should hand polinate. Andrew
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) July 9, 2008 2:45 PM	Hi Andrew, thanks for the reply. We have a million bees out there - so I have to assume they are getting pollinated. I will keep an eye on them - thanks again.
bugme Barnesville, GA (Zone 8b) July 9, 2008 2:56 PM	Thumbz, hope ya'll like squash!! We have only two and are getting waaaayyy more than we want. Your squash plants are realllllly close to each other. If they grow like our's do, there will be a jungle. Also, a good idea to place newspaper or something under the leaves to they don't get in the dirt. Just another safety measure to keep out the critters.
linux_guile Pueblo, CO July 9, 2008 3:16 PM	I agree. your squah plants will probably take over that entire bed. on the plus side you will have no shortage of squash bread!
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) July 10, 2008 2:50 PM	Bugme - thanks for the newspaper tip - will do, and yes they are close - I think we got a little carried away. DH is going to built some sort of trellis - I've got some ideas. so they can grow vertically instead of 'jungley'. :) linux_guile - I love squash - But I think you are right - we are going to have ALOT! Squash bread? Is that like Zuchinni bread? wonder what else I can do with it? PS ya should see the radishes- OH - tons we will have I tell you! :)
linux_guile Pueblo, CO July 10, 2008 3:00 PM	yep you can make zucchini bread with other summer squash too
lavender4ever (Louise) Otoe, NE (Zone 5a) July 10, 2008 3:05 PM	black, your yellow crookneck won't need a trellis. They stay bush shaped. I agree with the above. Sometimes they are all stunted in those plant containers and they will take off eventually. Watch closely for stinkbugs or other critters on your squash.
bugme Barnesville, GA (Zone 8b) July 10, 2008 5:26 PM	You can always give excess to your closest "needy pantry"........they welcome freebies.
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) July 10, 2008 7:54 PM	lavender4ever - so the squash won't use a trellis... hmm I guess it's gonna be a jungle out there. Stinkbugs? I wouldn't know what to look for. I just noticed around the one plant that is flowering like crazy - a small group of mushrooms. we're assuming that ame from the soil/manure. Thanks for the info bugme - yes I will definitely share and give to a good cause if we have excess.
Farmerdill Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) July 10, 2008 8:32 PM	Crooknecks, in fact most modern summer squash, set the fruit just above ground level at the base of the plant. There is not much to the main stem but the plants have huge leaves that will fill a three foot circle. I have over 500 plants( crooknecks and several types of zucchini) rarely have much trouble getting rid of them. Stinkbugs are a pain, but don't do an awful lot of damage to squash. Our nemesis is the Squash Vine Borer which you are fortunate not to have. Stinkbugs (squash bugs) are sheild shaped bugs that vary in their life span from white to green to brown. Aptly named if you squash one , they stink. View Larger
lavender4ever (Louise) Otoe, NE (Zone 5a) July 10, 2008 9:59 PM	Farmerdill, I know there is a super compact variety of zuch, do you grow it? I really need that variety and would like the name for next year. Mine this year are eating my garden.
Farmerdill Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) July 11, 2008 8:40 AM	No, I have not tried them. Most plants don't take up anymore room than a determinate tomato. The only one that I have grown that is designated compact is Terminator. It is a bit smaller simply because it has smaller leaves. Raven is touted as the smallest plant. Condor is its major competitor. Sungreen is also compact, but again due to size and shape of leaves. I grow One Ball, Cue Ball, Eight Ball and Blackball, which are round zukes, but take up average space. Some of the older OP zukes are almost semi vining and do take a lot of space. Terminator View Larger
grownut Clarkson, KY July 11, 2008 2:03 PM	On uses for extra squash - have you ever dried them? Slice at about a 1/4 inch thick and dry on a tarp, in a dehydrator, out in the sun, etc. They keep great in jars or baggies. I throw mine in winter stews or soak 'em in water then sautee (this is trad'l Korean - sesame oil, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, minced green onion) I really developed a taste for these right before I started killing off all my squash (go figure!). They'll be big and beautiful, produce one or two, turn yellow, wilt and die. Thought it was squash bugs, but I have them under control this year and still having the same problems. I envy you your extras!! Farmerdill, how do I recognize the vine borer?
lavender4ever (Louise) Otoe, NE (Zone 5a) July 11, 2008 10:29 PM	The one I have is from a nursery and was not marked any more than zuch. It is a monster and is much larger than my tomatoes. lol gonna look for something more compact next year.
Farmerdill Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) July 12, 2008 7:44 AM	Grownut, The SVB is usually noticed when it is too late to do much about it. You will notice frass ( sawdust like plant material) at the base of the plant. When the plant wilts and you pick it up, it appears to have rotted off at ground level or just above. These things burrow into the plant ( C. pepo and C. maxima) and eat from the inside out. [HYPERLINK@www.ca.uky.edu] [HYPERLINK@attra.ncat.org] [HYPERLINK@ohioline.osu.edu] [HYPERLINK@www.ces.ncsu.edu]
grownut Clarkson, KY July 12, 2008 1:40 PM	Farmerdill- Thanks! I found an info page from UKy right after asking you and went out to check (Doesn't it just figure after looking for it for weeks!!). No such evidence! The Kentucky page says that many squash bugs are infected with a bacteria which will infect the plant as soon as the larval critters start feeding and this appears to be exactly what I have. The remedy? Pull the plant before any others are infected and pray real hard that you don't lose the rest. It went on to say that hot composting will kill overwintering bugs and this should be done in the old location as well as next year's to prevent recurrence. I have 10 hills and had been hand checking and killing anything I saw but missed about 4 days to rain and dental work. Wham-dying squash plants! Culled and cleaned today then sprayed with a mixture of Dawn and water which usually at least slows them down 'cuz it tastes so nasty. I also pinched off any leaves where I found anything newly hatched. Hoping this will stave off further infection. Long post here but it has taken me 3 years of dying squash to maybe get a handle on this and I'm hoping sharing will help somewhere down the line...
Eufaula Eatonton, GA (Zone 8b) July 13, 2008 9:01 AM	Hi All! Im definitely not a beginner squash farmer, but I've run into a problem that has me knocking my head against the wall! LOL! I bought plants this year from A well known Plant and Garden dept store. They were very healthy and so I decided to just not use seeds this year. To My horror these plants (Crook neck Yellow Squash) grew up into fine looking specimens but failed to give anything but male flowers, then tiny white flies started covering the plants! I have dusted and gotten rid of the bugs twice now. everytime the plants start to recover and tiny squash appear the darned bugs come back and infest. What am I to do? The bugs are not on any other of my vegetables , just these squash! View Larger
lavender4ever (Louise) Otoe, NE (Zone 5a) July 13, 2008 12:20 PM	hose em really good. if they are whiteflies you can hang yellow sticky traps near there. they sell those online dont know if you can get them locally. Try neem oil spray they sell it at walmart in a container called fungicide 3 in one. it is just neem oil but controls bugs and fungus and is considered an organic approved insecticide.
Eufaula Eatonton, GA (Zone 8b) July 13, 2008 12:26 PM	Thanks Lavender, I need all the help I can get with these critters . An organic approved insecticde is just what I need! Hi ho Hi Ho , its off to Wal-Mart I go.... again!
quiltygirl Wildomar, CA (Zone 9a) July 22, 2008 1:27 AM	First time with a veggie garden and it was a last minute thought. Even though I planted late - June 1 - my squash plants are huge. Admittedly, I planted them too close then did not thin them. I'm cutting squash daily and do need to take some to the senior center. Planned to use the Iroquois "3 Sisters" way of planting with corn on a flat topped mound and squash below to act as mulch, then there is supposed to be a bean plant between the corn to vine up the corn. Well, there was no room left for the bean plant in the center and my seeds were bush plants anyway. The squash grew fast and even though it was in the "valley" grew taller than the corn, so the corn doesn't get enough sun, I think. My cukes are are tight to each other and producing, but need a support system. Neighbor thinned the beans by moving some of the 4" plants to an empty row. Beets doing well, wished I had more of those. Radishes too close and too hot. Watermelons and beans planted 3 weeks ago. Started another plot yesterday with winter-squash, tomato and peppers (seeds), cantalope, carrots (3rd attempt) and more beets and radishes. Can't wait till Sept for sweet peas, broccoli, spinach and cabbage. It would be cheaper to BUY veggies, but where is the fun in that!
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) July 25, 2008 2:55 PM	Ok - so as predicted - I am going to have an explosion of squash here.. Not onyl did we plant them to close to each other (and to many for the two of us) I also planted them to close to other veggies, like lettuce and eggplants. A friend suggested we cut them back, and allow only one or two vines per plant. Do I just start whacking them? Can I transplant what I whack off? This veggie gardening is fun, there is stuff growing everywhere. We inherited this garden, by moving into this house mid June 2008. We have 6 or 7 tomato plants, we only planted 3 ! It seems like over night things are exploding with growth. I am SO excited. (now tell me - what am I going to do with 6 dozen yellow squash?) There's only 2 of us and DH is not that bug a squash eater. (what was I thinking?) Thats ok - he planted an entire pack of red radishes - he doesnt like red radishes??? Did I mention we're beginners?
bugme Barnesville, GA (Zone 8b) July 25, 2008 5:01 PM	You've had good luck as beginners. As to what to do with it all..........a local food bank; you can dry it in a food dehydrator, or freeze it. Frozen I doubt would be much good except in soup since it would probably be soggy. You could cut the plants back but even better would be to pull some of them up & discard. They would not transplant once they are so big.
indy_v Indianapolis, IN (Zone 5b) July 25, 2008 9:39 PM	Thumbz, your other plants might not appreciate being squished and shaded. Squash plants can really get big. Here's one that I got the first week of June in one of those six pack things. I knew they'd get crazy so I planted only two of the six. I just put them in the ground and kept them weeded and watered. Didn't add any fertilizer. This message was edited Jul 25, 2008 8:41 PM View Larger
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) July 26, 2008 12:59 AM	Hi bugme, we have been lucky beginners. I will definitely take any overage to the food bank. Thanks! indy I agree, and even tho we hate to do it. I think we are going to have to sacrifice at least half of the 8 plants we have planted. egads. Your squash look fabulous! The stalks on these things are huge and strong, sigh it's a beautiful thing. I am excited about next summers garden - by then we will be in our first house and planning the garden will be with the knowledge that we'll be there for some years.
Moonglow Corte Madera, CA (Zone 10a) August 5, 2008 10:21 PM	Hi, blackThumbz. Beginner veggie gardener here, too. Been watching your thread (and learning from it) though I only have ONE crookneck squash plant =). I grow it for the blooms though since it's very rarely sold in supermarkets. Start a Squash Blossom Stand? =) View Larger
linux_guile Pueblo, CO August 6, 2008 9:00 AM	Moonglow, im curious. what do you use the blooms for ?
Moonglow Corte Madera, CA (Zone 10a) August 6, 2008 10:21 PM	linux last night i made squash blooms frittata. sometimes, stuffed with cheese. lightly battered and fried like tempura works, too. or sautéed in garlic and onions served with pasta. if local chefs find out blackThumbz is expecting a big blossoms harvest, i bet they'll make friends with bT.
linux_guile Pueblo, CO August 7, 2008 8:13 AM	mmmm, sounds yummy
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) August 11, 2008 12:21 AM	Hi Moonglow - Hi neighbor, hmmm.. sauteed in garlic and onions served over pasta.. thats sounds very good. How do I know when to pick the blossoms? I see my plants are starting to go a little crazy out there. In a very short time I will be up to my knnes is squash. Are the blossom in your picture - prepared to eat? I would expect the blossoms to taste like the squash eh?
Moonglow Corte Madera, CA (Zone 10a) August 11, 2008 12:35 AM	hello, neighbor. gee, i don't know the right time, really. i just pick them either before they wilt or before they open. we should google or wait for an expert. first year growing veggies for me, too. those blossoms in the photos became dinner. i made frittata. your idea sounds fantastic. with ONE plant, i can't keep up with the blooms. they magically grow overnight so it seems! and you have so many! i will have about 20 kinds of basil soon. let me know if you will be in the area.
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) August 11, 2008 8:29 AM	20 different kinds of basil? Wow... I didn't know there was 20 different kinds. Thats ok - I have tomato plants out the ears as well. We purchased and planted three, but 4 other plants have grown in some of the beds throughout the yard. Of course as things start to take off, wouldn't you know that we are battling the dreaded gopher. We've lost several eggplants, and broccoli plants. They start going for the tomatoes and I will be sleeping in the garden overnight :)
LTilton Glen Ellyn, IL (Zone 5b) August 11, 2008 11:53 AM	I keep a radio playing in the garden overnight. The one night I forgot so far this year, the raccoons got two of my corn plants.
quiltygirl Wildomar, CA (Zone 9a) August 11, 2008 12:03 PM	Radio?? Does it work against gophers too? I got one in the veggie garden even after using chicken wire underneath and up the sides of the hole, then fenced with it.
LTilton Glen Ellyn, IL (Zone 5b) August 11, 2008 2:34 PM	Dunno about gophers, we don't have them.
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) August 11, 2008 10:50 PM	hmmm radio? What sort of music do they not like? the rap? the hip hop? the country music? have you tried different flavors of music? I think thats an interesting idea. quiltygirl - gophers are the worst I am learning. we did not know about the chicken wire before we planted. Next year we will do things differently. You will never know you planted anything when they are done with ya. they've stolen 4 egg plants, 2 broccoli plants and every sunflower we planted. grrr... we need the gopher-nator to intervene :)
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) August 11, 2008 10:51 PM	Moonglow - do you have gophers?
Moonglow Corte Madera, CA (Zone 10a) August 12, 2008 12:37 AM	no gophers...i think. and the little veggies and herbs i grow are in containers. (basil because they are easy to start...remember, "beginner" veggie/herb gardener here).
indy_v Indianapolis, IN (Zone 5b) August 12, 2008 8:50 AM	Gophers like to dance, so prolly if you play their favorite music, they'll get so carried away with their gopher dance party that they'll cease with the destruction. ;o) maybe. This message was edited Aug 12, 2008 8:02 AM View Larger
indy_v Indianapolis, IN (Zone 5b) August 12, 2008 9:36 AM	But whatever you do, don't play Kenny Loggins! Just makes it worse. [HYPERLINK@www.youtube.com]
quiltygirl Wildomar, CA (Zone 9a) August 12, 2008 10:52 AM	Pretty funny video, but right on track!! After yard helper made the chicken wire fences stiff, I learn wobble is better to keep gophers from climbing! Lordy, there are so many native plants they could eat unchallenged! My gopher like dusty millers (perennials here) the best and ate big ones this last week. The used kitty litter defense is not working well to keep gophers away, but it it drawing our dogs to dig in planter!!
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) August 17, 2008 12:40 PM	very funny... the DH loves to quote from Caddy Shack. "Excuse me, but if I kill all the golfers...", "Gophers, Kill the gophers, not the golfers..." (or something like that) So Funny... I watched the movie recently to get a good laugh about the gophers... if not we're going to cry.. First garden and all.. But I take it as a learning experience and move forward... The DH on the other hand is out there with a pick axe chasing him around the yard.. (Im not joking) That little stinker is not taking the strawberry plants, Oh no... he is savvy enough to take ONLY the ripe strawberries.. I see one strawberry, almost ripe enough to grab , I think it needs another day, and sure as the sun rising that little bugger gets it before I do... sigh... we are having fun tho.. I guess thats what counts..
indy_v Indianapolis, IN (Zone 5b) August 17, 2008 2:38 PM	pickaxe! I laughed! my nonviolent hippie heart goes on vacation when it comes to garden pest erradication. I was chasing the cabbage butterflies just an hour ago with a spray bottle of neem oil going die! die! If this one isn't dead right now, it's feeling awfully sick. View Larger
guardians Thomson, GA August 17, 2008 4:19 PM	LOL, I love that movie! Thank goodness we don't have gophers. We haven't had a problem with critters this year, just keeping Trouble the Kitty out of our 8' x 24' raised kitchen garden - she obviously thought it was an enormous litter box. A few squirts from a long distance water bottle took care of that.
micrideblois Mobile, AL August 24, 2008 10:19 PM	something gets into my 5 foot fenced garden and digs my beautiful earthworms.seems not interested in the compost. Strange.. Does anyone have an idea what it could be. We live in southern Alabama. I am fairly new at gardening (organic) and try hard to build a decent soil . What to do? Also squash borers destroy any squash, after they produce a few fruits...
Les_Cooper Brazoria, TX August 25, 2008 12:04 AM	GROW BUSH SQUASH VERTICALLY [HYPERLINK@www.squarefootgardening.com] LES
Truart Ontario, CA August 25, 2008 2:03 AM	Hi Black Thumb, Sounds like this subject has really gotten crazy. LOL. Anyhow, I seem to have a lot of the same issues you have with going crazy and planting a lot. I guess I am not too far off though as I did notice pretty quickly that your plants are really close together. Have you thought of moving a plant or two while they are still a small size? I tend to get carried away with buying plants and seeds also. Just seems that my garden is bigger until I go and plant. I am a chef by trade and wanted to make a suggestion for your squash. First with almost anything you have in excess, think soup. As long as you use a good chicken base it almost doesn't matter what you put in it. You won't go wrong. Also, try grating the squash with a cheese grater add salt, pepper, flour and an egg just until it all can be made into a cake and fry in oil. They will make a really nice side dish. You could add a light white or cheese sauce over the top of them. Very easy. Give it a try.
blackThumbz Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) August 25, 2008 3:52 AM	Les, thanks - I mentioned wanting to grow it vertically, a local friend thought I was nuts! I will try this in my next garden. Truart - actually - the gopher is doing a fine job of thinning out the garden. sigh He got one of the broccolis today, it was JUST bearing fruit. OY! thanks for the squash suggestions. I love soup - so thats an easy one, Very interesting idea with the grating, I will definitely try that. I am not the best cook, I lack the imagination, it amazes me how people can take this and that and viola - they have a beautiful dish.

You cannot post until you register and login.

Other Vegetables Threads you might be interested in:

Subject	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
Tomatoe Trouble	lals	25	Dec 5, 2008 11:57 AM
Recommend a variety of sweet corn? Where to buy?	excelrealty	28	Dec 4, 2008 6:35 PM

Other Forums you might be interested in:

Flowers

Gardening Questions

Houseplants

Landscaping

Vegetables

What's This Plant?