The Mighty Cucurbitis - cucumber and squash

August 7, 2013

Although I have ranted and raved about my Fava beans and my self-seeded tomato patch, I am equally enamored with the cucurbits I planted. I had planted three types of cucumbers, a couple type of squashes and melon. Some I started from seeds and others I purchased as little plants. The problem is while I had initially labeled them using a black Sharpie, the marking had faded. I decided to plant them and wait for the fruits to determine what they are.

Just before I left for vacation, the weather had really heated up and the cucumber vines went wild! They were crawling over other plants and smothering them. I tied up the vines of one plant that was particularly vigorous to lattice sheets I propped up between the planter boxes and the wall,hoping to direct the vines to the lattice. Naturally, I was very excited to come back to see how the cucumbers were doing and what type of cucumbers each of the vines were!

The vines of the cucumber that was tied to the lattice had spilled over the sides and other planter beds. Both cucumber plants was being attacked by aphids but the more vigorous vine had fared better. The other plant had many dried leaves and yellow leaves.

And the Cucumbers continues.....

I continue to harvest those massive Armenian cucumbers. In less than a week those finger size cuke become huge! The joke around the house is the cucumber come in various sizes - single service, family size and party size. I think I mainly get party size cukes.

Single serving size

3 days later - family and party serving size cucumbers! Busy finding ways to eat them up and giving them away.