Whether you are new to growing your own food or have been growing a vegetable garden for years, you will benefit from some planning each year. Good planning is key to a successful vegetable garden Growing summer squash vertically by trellising or in tomato cages helps to save space, encourages air circulation, and allows the squash to be more visible reducing the chance of overgrowth. A few of the hollow stems do bend over the cage wires as the plant grows, but overall the benefits of growing summer squash vertically outweigh a few bent stems. As the plant grows, gently direct the foliage and stem upward through the tomato cage. Step 4: Guide the zucchini and summer squash up. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the stem of the plant. ![]() Add organic mulch around the plants to help keep the weeds down, the roots cool, and conserve moisture. Tie the tomato cage securely to the stake. If you are using a flimsy tomato cage, hammer in a stake or long piece of rebar for extra support. Push the legs into the ground up to the first ring. Simply place a tomato cage securely in the ground when the zucchini and summer squash are young. Either transplant seedlings or direct sow summer squash in a mound of soil. Step 1: Plant the zucchini and summer squash. Also, since the foliage is upright, it is easier to scout for and destroy eggs before they hatch. Squash bugs, cucumber beetles and other pests have less area to hide near the ground. Less places for squash bugs and other pests to hide.Also, most pollinators prefer to forage in sun. Since the foliage is more spread out when growing upright, there is less shading allowing the plant to absorb more sunlight. Zucchini and summer squash thrive in sun. More light gets to the plant when growing upright.Growing upright allows the squash to be more visible reducing the chance of overgrowth. It’s easier to see the zucchini to harvest.There is less chance of the fruit rotting from excess moisture since the squash is not touching the ground. Vertical growth keeps the squash off the ground.Good air circulation around the plant helps the foliage stay dry and averts downy mildew and other fungal diseases. Growing zucchini upright encourages air movement.The cage provides support and keeps the plant upright, preventing it from flopping out of the growing bed into the walking paths. The plants can easily be trained to remain in the tomato cage as it grows. ![]()
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