Strawberries, Butternut squash, and Yellow Zuchini

[ninnymary]

I have a 2'by 4' bed that I want to plant strawberries starts in. I plan to buy them in six packs. Should I buy 1 or 2 six packs?

I started Hillbilly, basil, butternut squash, and yellow zuchini from seeds. I figured I knew what the tomatoe and basil would look like so I didn't label them. The butternut and zuchini were planted in yogurt cups. Since there were only 2 I figured I could remember which seeds went into which flavored cups. Well guess what...NOT.. Now I don't know which is which! To make matters worse I don't know how to post pictures!!!

How can I tell which is which! What do I look for.

I know, the moral of the story is to ALWAYS label!

Mary

 

[journey11]

You are probably getting an everbearing type, right? (June-bearers aren't well suited for raised beds, actually.) Everbearers are spaced a foot apart so...you can fit up to 8 plants in that bed. They'll make runners, which you'll mostly prune out, unless you want to let a few develop to plant elsewhere.

Here's some pics of tomato seedlings.

The cotyledon on basil is smaller and rounder.

Squash and zucchini will be hard to tell apart until they're much bigger. Then the zucchini will be a bit darker green and have more distinct points at the edges.

 

[ninnymary]

Thanks Journey...I know what the basil and tomatoes are. It is the squashes that have me confused.

One of them has grayish, fuzzy, leaves. Is this the butternut? The other one is a brighter green color and the leaves are smooth. I'm guessing this might be the yellow zuchini?

In either case, I planted some more to be sure. Now if they all sprout, I won't know what to do with the extra seedlings. I don't know anyone around me that gardens.

Mary

 

[lighthawk]

I always plant "extra" seeds just in case some don't germinate. Pick the healthiest of the two and plant it then uproot the other. All you lost was one seed.

 

[ninnymary]

O.K...you guys are not helping me! Which is butternut squash and which is yellow zuchini?:/

Mary

 

[journey11]

One of them has grayish, fuzzy, leaves. Is this the butternut? The other one is a brighter green color and the leaves are smooth. I'm guessing this might be the yellow zuchini?

That sounds about right to me.

 

[lesa]

I know your garden space is small, Mary. It will make a big difference where you plant those squash. The summer squash is just a bush- not too huge. The butternut will trail all over the place, so you will want that where it has some room...If you are doing in containers (as I think I remember) then it won't matter. Just plant and wait for the mystery to solve itself!
Labeling always gets me, too. It seems like a simple matter until you get confused!! I bought a big bag of popsicle sticks at the dollar store- I really am going to label everything this year!!

 

[ninnymary]

Yes, Lesa..the butternut is going into a hugh pot on my deck where it will have room to sprawl. I'm hoping to hang the squash somehow, maybe with panty hose?, if needed.

The yellow zuchini is going into the ground and some more in a pot. I'm hoping to find some yellow pattypan to put in the ground also.

Funny thing is, I have tons of popsicle sticks!

Mary

 

[lesa]

I don't think you will have to support the butternut. Mine decided to grow up my fence and the fruit held on fine. You really have to cut the stems to harvest them. Unlike melons they don't drop off the vine when they are ripe...
Happy Gardening!

 

[journey11]

I've grown them trailing on the ground last year, but the year before I had them trellised on a cattle panel. They seemed to work out better on the trellis. Less blemishes means they'll store longer (over a year). You have to keep after them to get all the vines to go up the trellis. They don't really want to climb like some other things do. (ETA: On the deck they'll probably do better than they would on the ground.)