Caring For Cucurbits

Caring For Cucurbits

- Bill Kerr

If you are growing cucurbits, remember that cutworms may be lying in wait! To control them, it’s more effective to spray insecticide on the land before mechanical preparation as any cutworms present will be consuming the weeds there. Once the land has been cultivated, the weeds will be buried and the cutworms may spend some time consuming these underground, protected from the insecticide.

Direct seeding is easy, as the roots penetrate deeper layers very quickly and growth is rapid.

Transplants from seedling trays require more care, because after transplanting, the new roots start off rather slowly, while the leaves grow rapidly.

Ensure that the growing medium in the plugs is kept moist with frequent light irrigations until enough roots have penetrated the soil.