Squash Wrap Up

Another front came through last night.  Since this is the second significant front to come through in November I realize that the end of growing season is at hand for a lot of things in my garden.  The last front actually brought a little freezing weather with it so I had to cover up the tomatoes.  I also had a few winter squash that were not quite ready so I covered them too.    I also harvested the winter squash that were ready.

The last of the winter squash.  Top wrung - Red Warty Thing, Black Futsu and the unidentified squash.  Second wrung - Turk's Turban.  Third wrung - another unidentifed squash.  Photo by Chris Rue

The last of the winter squash. Top wrung – Red Warty Thing, Black Futsu and the unidentified squash. Second wrung – Turk’s Turban. Third wrung – another unidentifed squash. Photo by Chris Rue

I planted five varieties of winter squash back in August.  I bought the seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com).   Even though I planted five varieties of squash, I wound up only harvesting three of the varieties I ordered.  This was due to a couple of strange things that I have never happened to me before. 

The cucmber beetles ate everything - leaves and flowers included!

The cucmber beetles ate everything – leaves and flowers included!

The first were the cucumber beetles.  OMG!  They were terrible.  In addition to being a general menace they completely destroyed all of the vines of the Lakota winter squash.  I really wanted this variety so that was pretty disappointing.  However, that is nature.   Bugs happen.  Since I have never had cucumber beetles before, and since they COMPLETELY ate all of the Lakota vines, I can only assume that the Lakota squash brought the bugs to me.  I will never plant this variety again.

This image of Galeux d' Eysines is from rareseeds.com.  This what I wanted to grow.  The green and orange squash in the first picture is what I got.

This image of Galeux d’ Eysines is from rareseeds.com. This what I wanted to grow. The green and orange squash in the first picture is what I got.

The next thing that happened was truly strange.  I am convinced that Baker Creek somehow messed up their packaging.  I ordered a variety called Galeux d’ Eysines.  As the season progressed it became clear that I had none of this variety growing in my squash patch.  Instead, I had a large, oblong squash that was mostly green but stripped with a little orange.  To this day I have no idea what variety this squash is.  I have gone through all of the pictures on their website and I can find nothing that resembles the squash I grew.  Very strange.  I know accidents happen but I have never bought a package of seeds and then had them turn out to be something other than what was advertised.

This lovely Tatume' was grown by MOH reader Sherry Westphal in Michigan.

This lovely Tatume’ was grown by MOH reader Sherry Westphal in Michigan.

On another note, I recently got an e-mail and pictures from Sherry Westphal of Michigan.  She grew Tatume’ on a trellis in her garden.  Tatume’ is my favorite squash of all time.  Tatume’ is the rare squash that can be grown as either a summer or winter squash.  I grow it in the spring and eat it when it is young.  However, if you leave it on the vine it will turn into a mild winter squash.    So glad Sherry enjoyed her Tatume’ and took the time to send pictures and tell me about it. 

All of this cold means the end of what I consider prime gardening time.  The tomatoes are done and the last of my winter squash will soon be on the porch.  However, thanks to my mild climate, I have enough greens and brassicas growing  in the garden to keep my hands dirty until February.

Trimming Trees Correctly – Don’t Overdo It! by Janet Laminack

Some of you out there make yard work way too hard. For example, leaves don’t have to be raked and bagged. You can mow them into tiny bits and let them break down in the lawn. Or you can rake them into your flowerbeds as a mulch. But they can be messy and ill-behaved and blow around places, so I know that some people really need to rake and bag leaves and that is ok.

Downed leaves make great mulch

Downed leaves make great mulch

Did you know that trees don’t have to be trimmed? That’s a real shocker, isn’t it? The three primary reasons a tree should be pruned or trimmed is if they have branches that are dead, diseased or damaged. There are many other reasons that people trim and prune their shade trees but not all of them are very effective or recommended, such as pruning to control size. Find a tree or shrub with a mature size within your desired limits. Removing more than a third of a plant at a time is not recommended ever, so bear that in mind when charging about with your loppers and chainsaws.

Trees will need to be trimmed if branches are crossing and rubbing. Or if a tree is touching your house or other structures, pruning is appropriate. 

Trees don't "have" to be trimmed.  These lovely cottonwoods and sycamores have never seen a a pruner or saw and they look pretty spectacular

Trees don’t “have” to be trimmed. These lovely cottonwoods and sycamores have never seen a a pruner or saw and they look pretty spectacular

Sometimes trees are thinned out in the canopy. This is primarily done to allow more sunlight in for growing grass under the tree. Trees and turfgrass don’t actually mix too well. But, a tree adds so much more value to your home that I tend to always side with the tree over lawn health.  Planting a groundcover or other shade loving plants under a tree is an option if it’s too shady for grass but you want something green. Trees don’t need to be thinned out because they are too heavy or thick.

Trees are also trimmed up to open up a view or sight line. This is sometimes necessary and advisable. Removal of a few of the lower branches so that you don’t clothesline yourself while mowing is reasonable. However, be mindful not to overdo it creating a lion’s tail. This can leave a tree less structurally sound.

Crape myrtles are commonly trimmed back severely or topped in the winter to encourage blooming. They do flower on new growth, but pruning is not necessary in order for them to put on a spectacular show the next summer. Topping can cause the tree to lose its wonderful branching structure.

You don't have to commit crepe murder to get your crepe myrtles to produce beautiful blooms each year.  Photo from Greg Grant on Aggie-Horticulture.  http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/stopthecrape.html

You don’t have to commit crepe murder to get your crepe myrtles to produce beautiful blooms each year. Photo from Greg Grant on Aggie-Horticulture. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/stopthecrape.html

Yard work can be tough, but maybe not as hard as you have been making it all these years. If you have questions about how to care for your trees or landscape, give us a call at 940.349.2892, email master.gardener@dentoncounty.com or visit www.dcmga.com.