Evan Lott's Blog: Plant Research

Plants for the garden:

Squash, Broccoli, Cabbage

Top 2:

Squash, Broccoli

Squash

So I really want to plant a squash in our class’s community garden. Squash is a vegetable best eaten at the mature fruit stage. The best time to grow squash is during warm frost-free seasons; preferably around spring to mid-summer. Since San Diego is so warm, I figured we could grow them during winter anyways since our weather is our warm now as it is. Squash takes about ten to fourteen days to germinate. The only preparation is to stick the seed in some warm soil and water. Like I mentioned earlier, squash is extremely hard to grow in cold weather. It takes squash about forty or fifty days until it reaches full maturity. I think this will work out for our garden because if we plant my squash seeds at around early October, that should leave quite some time for the squash to grow. We can then harvest them well after the 40-50 day period just in time to enjoy them at our exhibition. Squash needs about two too two and a half feet spacing between seeds. Squash needs very rich soil because they are food hogs. The soil needs to be well drained and the squash also need to be fertilized. They need to be watered regularly. It is important to just keep the soil moist not wet. Squash prefers soil that is slightly acidic, with a Ph level of about 6. About N-P-K ratios: the preferred ratios are 10-20-10 or 5-20-20. Squash should be water regularly. It is good to water them about three times per week. It is also good to water them at the roots. Drip irrigation is most likely the best way to water them. dress with the granular type. An interesting fact about Squash: The English word "squash" derives from askutasquash which literally means “green thing eaten raw”

Broccoli

Broccoli is the second plant that I would like grow in our garden. Broccoli is a member of the cabbage family Brassicaceae. Broccoli is best grown in the spring and fall seasons. Broccoli just like squash is grown by seed. Broccoli usually takes about ten days to germinate. Depending on the variation of squash, it generally takes about 50-60 days for the broccoli to go from seed to harvest I think this time frame might be able to work for the semester. Like I mentioned for the squash, if I am able to plant the broccoli seeds in early October ( Within the first week hopefully) then they should ready to harvest by early December since 60 days is about 2 months approximately. About spacing; broccoli seeds should be planted about a quarter inch In the soil and about a foot and a half to two feet apart from each other. Broccoli needs cool soil which a preferable Ph level of six. Good NPK levels for broccoli are 50, 75, and 100%. Broccoli should be watered at the roots. The best way is to use a drip irrigation system to water them. Broccoli shouldn’t be watered all the time, but it should maintain good moisture. An interesting fact about broccoli: Broccoli comes from the Latin word brachium which means branch or arm.

Links

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/ssquash1.html

http://www.gardenersnet.com/vegetable/squash.htm

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/M1258.html

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Growing-Vegetables-740/Butternut-Squash-13.htm

http://www.texasgardener.com/pastissues/janfeb04/squash.html

http://www.bellybytes.com/foodfacts/squash_facts.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broccoli

http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/tipsgrowingbro_spcy.htm

http://www.biocontrols.com/aero95.htm

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/broccoli1.html

http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/info/Vegetables/broccoli.asp