DIY Network

Planting Zones and More.... Planting Zones and More.... From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-104

Having covered the basics of planting squash, it's now time to look at planting zones and squash types. Plus, learn how to build attractive trellises to support the squash plants as they grow....

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Another important thing to learn from the back of the seed packet is when to plant in your area. Each packet has a map (figure A) showing the planting times for each climate zone. Yellow squash, zucchini and patty pan are all warm-weather vegetables.

For summer squash, there are 4 zones:

• In Florida, the Gulf Coast and parts of California and the Southwest, squash be planted from April to August
  
• In the Southeast and central California, from April through July
  
• In the middle of the country, from May to July
  
• In the North and Northwest, they can be planted during late May and June.

You might wonder where the name "Patty Pan" comes from; it's from its unusual shape (figure B). These small squash have lots of flavor and a striking appearance, which would explain why they're often served in gourmet restaurants. Despite their fancy reputation, there's nothing different about growing these squash. Most are about the size of a flattened golf ball or small lemon. You can plant them in the same raised bed as the yellow squash using the same planting technique, grouping 3-4 seeds together along the top of the mound.

Patty pan squash grows in a bush shape like most summer squash. They come in shades of yellow or white, but they can also come in white with green stripes. Patty Pan are a little harder to find in your local garden center so you might need to order them from a catalog or internet seed company. Once the seeds come up, clip out the weakest plants, making room for the strongest squash to continue growing.

Zucchini (figure C), known also as marrow or courgette, is another fast growing squash but it's usually dark green in color with a tube-like shape. Zucchinis are harvested when they're small and can be eaten cooked or raw since the skin is tender. Some say zucchini grows so fast that you can actually sit in the garden and watch it grow. A lesser-known type is the golden zucchini. It has the same cylindrical shape as other zucchini, but it has bright yellow skin and light yellow flesh.

Plant your zucchini seeds in their own raised bed. Black Beauty and 8-Ball varieties do well. Plant them the same way as other summer squash. Zucchini goes from seed to maturity in about a month and a half. They produce top-quality fruit for a month and then the quality begins to decline, so be sure to plant them 2-3 times during the summer for squash all season. They need lots of room to grow since each plant forms a large mound of foliage.
One type of zucchini, zuchetta rampicante, is a vining plant. It can get 25 feet long if it grows across the ground, but it does best on a trellis. It produces long, narrow light-green fruit that can reach a foot-and-a-half in length. This squash is mostly grown in Europe, so it may be necessary to mail-order the seeds. Zucchetta rampicante is known as the garden gorilla of Italy, so expect big things from the plants. Plant it all by itself at the end of a bed to ensure it will have ample room to grow. Consider building two lean-to trellises to contain it:

	Figure D
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H

1. Purchase 16 - 1" x 1/2" by 8' long pine boards; 8 pieces are required for each trellis.
   
2. For each trellis, lay out four of the pieces in a grid design on the ground.
   
3. Make a pencil mark on each of the 8 pieces, 10" from the end.
   
4. Lay another piece of 1 x 1/2" across all 4 boards on the ground, lining it up with the pencil marks and making the ends even with the outside board.
   
5. Drill a small pilot hole using a 1/8" bit through the top and halfway into the bottom board.
   Safety Note: As with any project that requires use of power tools, be sure to wear safety goggles while working.
   
6. Screw the pieces together using 3/4"-long galvanized screws.
   
7. Repeat the process at the other end.
   
8. Add the final 2 pieces of 1 x 1/2" boards and space them evenly between the 2 pieces already in place (figure D). Attach with screws as before.
   
9. Repeat the steps for the second trellis.

Once the two trellis panels are complete, there will be an extra 10 inches of length on the top and bottom of each piece. This allows for one end to be inserted in the ground and the opposite end to overlap with the other panel at the top.

Lightly hammer the trellises into the ground on each side of the new seeds (figure E). If you have raised beds, you can place them against the inside of your planting box. Then lean the two sides together, letting them cross at the top like a teepee (figure F). Tie together with garden string to prevent them from being blown over in a storm.

Note: Be sure not to step on the seeds as you position the trellis.

Though these trellises are quick and inexpensive to build, if you don't have the time (or desire) to build your own, a string trellis will also work; or, you can buy a prefabricated model at your local garden center.

After planting all three types of summer squash in this garden, it's time to water (figure G) -- starting with the zucchini. In a few weeks, the first blooms will appear (figure H); in about a month, the summer squash will be ready to harvest.