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Re: tomatoes & squash - REPLY

Quick note regarding your question about winter squash and "ripeness".
When your thumbnail can no longer make a cut in the squashes skin its
ready.Remove by cutting off the vine or twist carefully ,leave in the
garden in dappled shade,to cure for several days. Store in a cool/dry
area.
Now I have a question for you,would you kindly describe/explain the
staking of squash vines to me/the list.Sounds very interesting and space
conserving.TIA.
Connie


Belissa1@aol.com wrote:
> 
> This is about pruning tomatoes and harvesting and staking squash.
> 
> I have a bunch of different tomato plants, the varieties of which I do not
> know (it's a long story).  I don't even know if they're determinate or
> indeterminate.  I am growing them on stakes.  Question:  how do I prune them?
>  I don't know which parts to cut off and which to leave, so I haven't cut
> anything yet.
> 
> Also -- how tall do I need the stakes to be for the tomatoes, whether
> indeterminate or  determinate?  I am worried that all my tomatoes are
> determinate.  How do I tell?
> 
> I am in Los Angeles, where it's not yet June but my spaghetti squash is
> starting to look ripe.  Can someone tell me how to tell when spagetti squash
> can be picked?  At this point they are large and yellow.  How will I know
> when they are completely ripe?
> 
> Ditto for various winter squashes -- last year I left them on the vine for a
> long long while and practically forgot about them.  They were most certainly
> ripe by the time I felt like picking them.  I am gardening a lot more
> assiduously this year.  Question is, how *early* can I harvest winter squash
> once they look "finished"?
> 
> By the way, I've staked my squash and melons this year (as I read about in
> books but never actually saw anyone do) and am getting terrific results so
> far.  I have an *unbelievable* number of plants in a small space and all seem
> to be  producing fruit.  My garden looks extremely neat as well and very
> impressive.  It is just such a fabulous change from growing vines on the
> ground in an unruly mess that I can't believe it isn't a more universal
> practice.  I am totally sold on this method and can't recommend it highly
> enough.
> 
> Anyone have experience pinching off the staked vines at about 6 or 7 feet?  I
> know that on the ground they often grow several times that length, but that's
> what I've been doing and I'm hoping it's going to be OK.
> 
> Any other Los Angeles/Southern California gardeners who want to trade local
> tips -- climate, pests, local bargains?
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