Webinar: Growing Melons, Cucumbers, Squash & Pumpkins

May is the perfect time to plant delicious fruits and vegetables for harvest this summer and fall. Our resident food gardening expert Dan Alexander is back to demonstrate tips and tricks for growing melons, cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins. This is an excellent webinar for any level of gardener. Tune in with your questions!


The Cucurbits – Squash, Melons and Cucumbers, “Oh My!”
Family Cucurbitaceae
Where do they come from?
A little botany lesson regarding their flowers and pollination, including saying hello to the Squash Bee!
Genus Cucurbita – the squashes, pumpkins and some gourds. New world plants, part of the 3 sisters method of co-planting with maize and beans
Genus Cucumis – the cucumbers and some melons (cantaloupe, honeydew) and the “Armenian cucumber” which is actually a melon in disguise. Origins in dispute – Africa, India, SE Asia?
Cucumbers can be grown up trellises or other supports.
Genus Citrullus – watermelons, probably North African in origin
Genus Luffa – your “Loofah” or “Loopha” (sounds like Dr. Seuss named it) sponge, origin Indian sub-continent
Genus Marah – includes our native California “Man Root” vine
Requirements

Sun
Soil rich in organic matter – how to amend
Room to grow (and pot sizes)
Water (all of our cultivated Cucurbits need irrigation
Fertilizer
Starting seeds
Time to transplant
Time to harvest

Pests and Diseases and their treatment