Cucumber Beetles on Melons: The Real Damage
The real damage from cucumber beetles on melons isn’t the chewed leaves. It’s bacterial wilt, a disease the beetle carries in its gut and injects every…
When to Plant Summer Squash in Illinois
Summer squash goes in the ground in Illinois only after soil has warmed and frost risk has passed, which at the reference Chicago-area station means a…
Melons in a Container: What It Takes
Yes, melons can grow in containers, but only certain types, in pots far larger than most gardeners expect, with a watering routine that doesn’t forgive…
The Best Summer Squash to Grow in Illinois
Illinois gardeners get a long enough season that maturity days rarely decide the winner.
The Best Summer Squash to Grow in Alabama
For Alabama’s long, hot growing season, fast-maturing bush-type zucchini and yellow crookneck squash beat slower vining varieties every time.
Black Plastic, Row Covers and Buying Three Weeks
Soil temperature, not air temperature, decides when melon roots can actually grow.
When to Plant Summer Squash in Idaho
The safe window to direct-seed summer squash outdoors in Idaho’s Boise valley runs from roughly May 7 through early October, built around a last spring…
The Best Summer Squash to Grow in Idaho
For most of Idaho, the safest bet is a fast bush-type squash, zucchini or yellow crookneck, maturing in 45 to 55 days.
When to Plant Summer Squash in Hawaii
Summer squash doesn’t follow a calendar in Hawaii the way it does on the mainland.
The Best Summer Squash to Grow in Hawaii
Zucchini and yellow crookneck (bush-type Cucurbita pepo) grow fastest and dodge disease pressure best in Hawaii’s leeward, drier spots.