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Re: tomatoes & squash - REPLY

How does one stake squash vines?  It sounds like a good idea, but do the
squash get so heavy they fall off or pull down the vines?  Tell us more. 
BTW we here in the Northeast haven't even dared to plant our squash. Judy
Warner
warner@ultranet.com

----------
> From: Belissa1@aol.com
> To: veggie-list@eskimo.com
> Subject: tomatoes & squash - REPLY
> Date: Tuesday, May 27, 1997 6:17 PM
> 
> 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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