Transplanting squash

Early May is go time for all the warm season crops on the farm. Once we feel the danger frost has passed, we start planting all the summer crops into the field. It always feels like an explosion of growth that is unrelenting until the dog days of summer.

To ensure we have a continuous harvest throughout the summer we must plant several successions. This week was the first of many, which each crop having it’s own special set of needs. We’re finishing up our first round of plants in the squash family, all of which we grow in a similar fashion. Watermelons, yellow squash, golden and green zucchini, spaghetti squash, delicata, butternut, canteloupe and cucumbers all went in the ground, so wish them well!

Pedro dunking squash plants

Squash transplants coated in Surround WP, a kaolin clay slurry, to protect them from sunburn and insects when they are transplanted in the field.

Squash plants headed to the field

We dunk the plants in Surround WP (koalin clay) before planting in the field. The white coating provides a physical barrier that deters insects from eating the leaves, as well as providing protection from the sun until they are established in the soil.

Pedro planting squash

We use a modified tobacoo setter to transplant the squash into the field. This machine makes a easy work of a potentially back breaking job.

Jack watering squash

We use this water cart to pour water over each transplant to help it get established in the field. Hot dry conditions are very stressful on newly planted crops, and we do everything we can to get these plants off to a quick start.