Cucurbits (Squash family) ●
Well-drained soil enriched with plenty of compost.
Full sun.
Cannot tolerate frost.
Drench plants with a liquid fertilizer when they begin to blossom and set fruits.
Corn, Nasturtium, Borage, Oregano, Marigold, Cucumber, Melon, Pumpkin and Lemon Balm.
Single Plants: 1' 11" (60cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 11" (60cm) with 1' 11" (60cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow seeds 1 inch deep in spring, either in rows or hills. Also may be started from seedlings started indoors or purchased at stores.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Keep plantings small, to fewer than a dozen plants. Different types of summer squash help pollinate one another because they are of the same species.
Harvest summer squash when they are young and tender, before the rinds begin to harden. Use a knife to cut fruits from the plants.
Squash bugs and squash vine borers can be serious pests. Exclude them from young plantings with row covers.
Crop Rotation Group Umbelliferae (Carrot and root family) ● Soil Any average, well drained soil enriched with compost. Position Full sun. Frost tolerant Hardy only to about 10 degrees F, though winter mulches or cloches can enhance cold tolerance. Where winters are mild, parsley can be sown in fall and grown through winter. Feeding Drench plants with a water soluble organic plant food monthly. Companions Asparagus, Corn and Tomato. Spacing Single
Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Any sunny site with good drainage. Position Full sun to partial afternoon shade. Frost tolerant Phacelia seedlings can tolerate light frost, but the plants are easily damaged by hard freezes. Feeding When growing phacelia to improve very poor soil, mixing a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil before planting will give better results. Companions Cucumber, Tomato, Kale, Broccoli and Cabbage. Mixes well w
Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Fertile, well drained soil. Position A sunny spot near the back or edge of a garden bed, because tarragon is a lanky plant. Frost tolerant A cold-hardy perennial, tarragon can survive temperatures to -20F (-30C). Feeding Not usually required. Companions Eggplant. Often planted with thyme and other low, mound-forming herbs. Spacing Single Plants: 1 3" (40cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 1 3" (40cm) wit
Planting Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) is a warm-season crop that grows best at average temperatures between 65 and 75 °F. Squash seeds do not germinate well in cold soil. In the spring, do not plant this crop until after the last chance of frost has passed, and the soil temperature is 60 ºF, 4-inches below the surface. Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) is a warm-season crop that grows best at average temperatures between 65 and 75 °F.Barbara H. Smith, ©2017 HGIC, Clemson