Seeding Cucurbits in Anticipation of Summer

Today I seeded up two trays of Cucurbits! The Cucurbitaceae family includes squash, gourds, cucumbers and melons. I am starting them earlier this year and I am starting all of them in trays rather than direct seeding so that they can get an early start. I'll also be planting them out early.

Traditionally our last frost date is June 1st and some people say that there's been frost and snow further into June in rare occasions. But talking to some old timers and some wise farmers that I respect has taught me that our last frost date is moving up in the recent years and we can expect our last frost date to be mid May now.

So today is May 1st and I seeded up our squash. I will plant out in mid may or in the 2nd half of May. And I'll be motivated to get them in the ground because they grow super fast! I am sowing pretty thickly in these trays and I'll be thinning down to something like 3-6 plants per row, depending on how crowded they get! And squash grow fast so it will be fun to see how tightly I can space these seedlings in there!

Here is what I sowed:

Squash

• Emerald Naked Seeded Pumpkin
• Sibley
• Pueblo Hubbard
• Lower Salmon River
• Red Kuri
• Sweetmeat
• Banana
• Delicata
• Straightneck
• Round Zuccini
• Butternut

Gourds

• Snake Gourd - Thanks to a trade with @papa-pepper via @homesteaderscoop!
• Luffa - Thanks to a seed swap with @goldendawne last year!

Watermelon

• Petite Yellow
• Sugar Baby

Achocha

I got Achocha at a seed swap not knowing what it was. The seeds were so intriguing looking like little pieces of coal. Turns out it is a south american cucumber like vegetable that is delicious cooked and often stuffed. It also has medicinal values. It will be fun to grow out!

Some of these seeds were swapped online, some bred by friends, some saved from farms we visited, some from squash we were gifted and others purchased.

I am interested in knowing what species each squash belongs to. The most common are Maxima, Pepo and Moschata. Squashes won't commonly cross outside of their own species. So if I want to save seeds of one type I can grow another type near it. That is also the nice thing about @papa-pepper's edible snake gourds, being in a totally different species than squash. And likewise with Achocha in a completely different genus. And it seems like I am barely scratching the surface of the cucurbits world. So its going to be fun!

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