Cucurbits Ideas, Tips & Guides

How to Plant and Grow Butterkin Squash Cucurbita ‘Butterkin’

Forgetting that she’s not a vegetable gardener, I was recently lamenting to my daughter Lucy that at least a couple of my zucchini plants end up flopping over each growing season.“Oh, are they just being dramatic?” she asked, humorousl

Zucchini is a favorite of home gardeners for good reason: it’s prolific, easy to grow, and the fruits taste so darn good.But these plant may be attacked by a whole range o

Nothing says summer like a large harvest of homegrown zucchini.And as much as you enjoy the freshly-plucked f

Do you love the fresh fruits of summer, but lack the garden space to grow your own? It’s time you considered growing zucchini in a container.These delicious, nutritious hall

I’m such a fan of zucchini for the home garden.I consider it the perfect starter v

Zucchini are nothing if not prolific, and while you’re more likely to see a vine take over half your garden than you are to see one struggle and die, they still have their share of potential problems.There are several pests and diseases that are particularly common

Renowned for its prolific harvests, zucchini is a beautiful and delicious vegetable that’s usually easily cultivated – but blossom-end rot can quickly turn your zucchini dreams into disappointments!We link to vendors to help you find rel

Pruning zucchini puts me in mind of the catchy seven beats that tap out “Shave and a haircut…” and then the response, “Two bits!”The knocking pattern for gags origi

One of my favorite garden gifts to eat during the cold season is winter squash.Easily stored in a root cellar or colder

Many people are finally catching on to the magic of calabaza squash, and it’s about time.This winter type is more resistant to disease than a

Most cucumbers you grow in the garden make it obvious if they’re ailing. The leaves of Cucumis sativus plants get spots, perhaps, the fruits have holes, or both turn yellow or start shriveling.But “hollow heart” cucumbers don’t reall

Maybe it’s because I always struggled with math in school, but anytime I see numbers and measurements, I balk.Unfortunately for my plants, this includes

You’ve heard the jokes about what to do with too many zucchini. But – for many of us veggie garden lovers, at least – there is no such thing!Just one of the many members of the summer squash f

Fresh zucchini is an integral part of the summer vegetable garden. Unfortunately, pests like aphids and squash bugs can cause damage and reduce harvests.We link to vendors to help you find rel

If the thought of summer squash brings to mind images of yellow crooknecks and little else, get ready to make a new discovery – there are so many different types!These include straightnecks, zucchini, pattypans, ro

When you plant a crop like zucchini, it’s all about savoring the moment, and enjoying summer’s bounty. Growing winter squash on the other hand – that shows you’re thinking ahead.So, treat your future self to a feas

There’s a lot of different types of squash out there, from tiny little pattypans to massive pumpkins, and all of them have slightly different colors, flavors, and textures from one another.So you’d think with all the variety out there, it would

When I was a young girl, we didn’t use washcloths with our baths or showers. We did not have the puffy, plastic mesh scrubbies sold at dollar stores today.We used a loofah sponge, and it wasn’t until I was a grownup that I realized we grew these

When zucchini are happy, they’re really happy.So much so that you might find yourself begging th

There’s nothing like eating warm spaghetti squash on a cold winter night. In fact, spaghetti noodles are where the spaghetti squash got its name.The flesh of the fruit looks a lot like stringy pasta and it is regard

Delicious and nutritious, butternut squash is a vining annual with a free, sprawling habit that’s fairly easy for the home gardener to cultivate.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products.

The squash bug is a pernicious insect, one of the most common and serious pests of cucurbit plants like squash and pumpkins, as well as cucumbers and melons, though typically to a lesser degree.Unfortunately, these bugs are widespread throughou

Birdhouse gourds make an ideal gardening project for the whole family. The hard-shelled hanging fruits are not edible but are wonderful for craft projects such as creating decorative homes for the birds. Learn how to plant and grow your own down below.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from

Is there anything tastier than a juicy, soft-yet-firm piece of cantaloupe unfurling its delightful flavor on your tongue?Of course not!And there’s no better reward for the w

Having a stash of homegrown zucchini you’ve blanched to keep in the freezer or canned and pickled to store in the cellar is wonderful.But when the plants themselves a

Most gardeners have had a go at growing zucchini (known as courgettes or marrows, where I’m from) or pumpkins at one point or another. But for some reason, I’ve found that far fewer people have tried their hand at growing ornamental gourds.And there’s really no good reason for this! Gourds

Growing vegetables involves an element of mystery, but not always a positive one.Case in point: When zucchini drop their blossoms

If you’re a fan of muskmelons, you probably think biting into a slice is the best taste of summer.Their juicy, nutritious, and sometimes brightly colored fl

You planted your pumpkin seeds and felt that buzz of excitement when they germinated and poked through the earth.They grew into robust vines with huge le

I regret to inform you of this, but I can’t keep it to myself any longer:My partner thinks cantaloupe isn’t any good.

The biggest pumpkins make for the best pie, right?Well… maybe not.Most cultivars are edible, and you can m

Pumpkins spur the imagination, from the 19th century idea of using them for jack-o’-lanterns to Cinderella and her spellbound pumpkin carriage.But along with folksy celebrations and fai

The other day, I brought my friend out to the garden and parted the vines of my ‘Howden’ pumpkin plant, revealing an enormous green fruit.“Wow!” said my friend. “That’s beautiful. It looks like a wat

When I think of fall, pumpkins automatically come to mind. Or, to be more specific, pumpkin pie, cake, rolls, and lattes…But what about all of the seeds that are lef

When certain plants produce huge yields, grow fast, and take a lot of nutrients and water, it’s only natural they would become the stars of the garden.Cucumbers, Cucumis sativus, definitely play that role. But i