Harvested the first squash from the Earthbox today. One Multipik and one 8 Ball ready. Probably should have picked the 8 Ball yesterday–I think they are supposed to be picked when baseball size. This one is closer to a softball.
So, first squash ready 51 days after planting the seeds in the Earthbox.
Multipik and 8 Ball
Finally got some pollination going and a few squash are plumping up. Should be ready tomorrow I imagine.
8 Ball Almost Ready
Multipik About Ready
Concerned about what looks to be some powdery mildew perhaps forming on the 8 Ball squash. The other squash do not show signs of it. But that’s what destroyed all my squash last fall. It will spread if it gets worse. Need to see if it’s something I need to treat, asap!
Powdery Mildew....??
Early squash fruits are dying as spinsters. It seems that the females are early bloomers. There have already been four squashes that have flowered and are now shrivelling away because not a single male flower has bloomed yet to provide the life-giving male pollen to these eager ladies. Painful to watch. But I think the first male will open tomorrow morning.
Multipik Unpollinated and shrivelling away
Two Eight Ball Squash Sans Pollination
Earthbox Squash at Day 44
Peppers are looking healthy, but so far no peppers forming. The jalapeno plant is in the lead with lots of blooms, but they seem to be falling off the plant before a pepper can form. Need to see if that is normal or an indication of some issue.
Earthbox Peppers
Was Happy to See a Couple of These on the Peppers
Squash is coming along nicely at day 35 since direct-seeding in the Earthbox. The Eight Ball variety is winning the race at this point–seems much more vigorous that the other varieties. Second is probably Multipik, followed by Zephyr. The cucumber I planted isn’t worth mentioning yet–very slow growing at this point.
Now we just need to get some bees involved.
The Eight Ball squash is the early favorite
Multipik babies appearing
Zephyr -- two tone baby squash just visible
Earthbox Squash at day 35
Peppers are starting to take off. Very interested to see how they do in the Earthbox.
Peppers in the Earthbox
Bougainvillea shot--they're starting to bloom!
Squash is progressing much more slowly than it did in the fall garden, perhaps due to the chilly night temps. The crappy Miracle Gro Potting Mix might also be a contributing factor. It seems much less fluffy than the Hi Yield mix I used last time (Red Barn Nursery, where I used to get the Hi Yield, does not seem to carry it now) and it may not be wicking the water up as efficiently as the Hi Yield mix did.
Earthbox Squash at Two Weeks