A3688

K.A. DelahautA.C. Newenhouse

Growingpumpkins andother vine cropsin WisconsinA guide for fresh-market growers

ContentsPlant description, 1

Site selection, 4

Cultivar selection, 4

Planting, 6

Soils and nutrient management, 9

Irrigation, 10

Harvest, handling, and storage, 11

Insect management, 12

Disease management, 14

Weed management, 17

Additional reading, 18

Successful fresh-market gardening involves

more than just a talent for growing high-quality

vegetables. You also need to find a market for

them. Before you start, visit other growers,

develop a marketing plan, and evaluate the

feasibility of your proposed business. Think

about what is unique about your product. Are

you promoting the product for taste, freshness,

health benefits, value-added, or time of avail-

ability? For assistance determining your mar-

ket, consult with your county Extension agent or

refer to Extension publication Direct Marketingof Farm Produce and Home Goods (A3602).

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1

Pumpkins and squash are themost common vine crops formarket gardeners. Melons are

temperamental and require optimum grow-ing conditions to be deliciously sweet.

However, once you are able to grow delectablemelons, your market is almost guaranteed. A

pumpkin crop can bring customers to your farm,particularly if you include other marketing strategiessuch as hay rides, apple cider, or a haunted house. Ifyou grow cucumbers, be sure your crop is of excel-lent quality since many home gardeners grow theirown. Growing vine crops is an excellent way to bringa weed-infested field into production. Their sprawlinghabit and dense plant canopy will suppress weedseed germination for much of the season.

Plant descriptionCucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and squash are allmembers of the Cucurbit family. Cucurbits originatedin both the Old and New Worlds. Cucumbers(Cucumis sativus) are native to India whilemuskmelon (Cucumis melo) and watermelon

(Citrullus lanatus) originated in Africa. Pumpkins(Cucurbita pepo), summer squash (also C. pepo),winter squash (Cucurbita maxima and C. moschata),and some gourds all belong to the genus Cucurbitawhich originated in the New World.

Cucurbits are warm-season, herbaceous annuals.The growth habit of individual plants may either bedeterminate (shoot tip ends in a flower) with a bushygrowth habit or indeterminate (shoot tips grow contin-uously with flowers in leaf axils) with a prostrate andspreading growth habit (figure 1). Leaves are bornesingly and may be simple or lobed. Tendrils arefound in the leaf axils on all species except somespecies in the genus Cucurbita. All plants in theCucurbit family have extensive, shallow root systems.Cucurbit flowers vary considerably in color, size andshape, and may be perfect (have both male andfemale flower parts) or imperfect (have either male orfemale flower parts). Individual plants may bear acombination of flower types. Only female flowers andperfect flowers will set fruit. Terminology describingflowering characteristics of vine crops can be quitecomplex, so some of the terms used throughout thispublication are defined in table 1.

plant d

escription

Table 1. Flower morphology and terminology

Term Definition

Perfect A flower that contains both male parts (stamen) and female parts (pistil).

Imperfect A flower that lacks either stamen or pistils.

Staminate (male) flower Individual, imperfect flower with only male parts. A single plant may bear bothstaminate and pistillate flowers.

Pistillate (female) flower Individual, imperfect flower with only female parts. A single plant may bear bothpistillate and staminate flowers.

Monoecious A plant that bears two different types of flowers: staminate (male) and pistillate(female).

Dioecious A condition where staminate (male) and pistillate (female) flowers are borne onseparate plants.

Gynoecious A dioecious plant that bears only pistillate (female) flowers.

Pollination Pollen transferred from male flower parts to female flower parts.

Fertilization Pollen unites with ovules to form fruit.

Self pollinated* Plant can produce fruit with own pollen or pollen from another plant of the samecultivar and species.

Cross pollinated* Plant can produce fruit with pollen from another plant of the same species butdifferent cultivar or variety.

*Terms defined by common usage. Botanically, pollination refers only to pollen transfer and the terms “selffertile” and “cross fertile” are used for subsequent fruit production.

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Genetics, day length, and temperature are the keyfactors that determine which type of flowers are pro-duced on monoecious cucurbit plants. Early in theseason, as day length increases, the first flowers pro-duced are male. Once the days begin to shortenafter the summer solstice, female flowers begin toappear. Female flowers are typically producedthrough July, and then male flowers predominateonce again.

Gynoecious plants produce only female flowersthroughout the entire season. However, under mois-ture stress, cool temperatures, or crowded condi-tions, gynoecious plants will begin to produce maleflowers, and will continue to produce only male flow-ers even when conditions improve. If you growgynoecious cultivars, be sure to plant separate plantswith male flowers to pollinate the female plants, andprovide more bees for pollination. It’s easy to tell whichflowers are male and which flowers are female (figure2). Male flowers have a relatively long peduncle orflower stalk. Female flowers have a shorter pedunclewhich ends in a small, round or elongated ovary atthe base of the flower. As the female flower develops,the ovary begins to resemble the mature fruit.

Honeybees are the main pollinators of all vine cropsand one to three active bee colonies will pollinate anacre. Poor fruit set or misshapen fruit may be an indi-cation of poor pollination or weather stress such aswind, rain, or cold which reduced bee activity duringthe time pollination should have occurred.

Some vine crops are self pollinated and others crosspollinate. Cross pollination never affects the flavor,size, shape or color of the fruit, but it does affect thegenetic characteristics of seed borne in that fruit. Ifyou save seeds from cross pollinated plants andplant them, the new fruit might have any combinationof new characteristics.

CucumbersCucumbers (Cucumis sativus) produce trailing vineswhich spread in all directions. Leaves and stems arecovered with numerous spines. Cucumber leaves aretriangular with rounded lobes, the middle lobe beinglonger than those on either side. Small yellow flowersapproximately 1 inch in diameter are borne in leafaxils. Wasp-shaped cucumbers in which the middlesection of the fruit is narrower than the ends occursfrom late pollination or low soil potassium levels.

Cucumbers are self pollinated and will not cross polli-nate. Originally all cucumber cultivars were monoe-cious. Today, gynoecious hybrids are available which

Figure 1. Determinate plants (left) form flowers

at the ends of branches while indeterminate

plants (right) produce flowers in leaf axils.

Figure 2. Female flowers have a short stalk and

an enlarged ovary, male flowers have a long stalk

produce mostly female flowers and subsequently setmore fruit. Seed dealers usually supply 10–15% malepollinator seeds in gynoecious cucumber seed pack-ets to ensure fertilization of female plants.

The cucumber plant produces cucurbitacin, a chemi-cal which causes bitterness and makes cucumbersdifficult for some people to digest. When cucumbersare allowed to fully mature, cucurbitacin becomesconcentrated in the skin and may be removed bysimply peeling the cucumber before use. “Burpless”cultivars have genetically lower levels of cucurbitacin.

Muskmelons and watermelonsMelon (Cucumis melo) leaves are oval to kidneyshaped with five to seven shallow lobes. Plants pro-duce trailing vines and yellow flowers similar tocucumbers, but flowers may be male (staminate),female (pistillate), or perfect. Melons can cross polli-nate only with other melons of the same species.There are three botanical varieties within the speciesand cross pollination can occur among these:C. melo var. cantaloupensis—the true cantaloupe(not grown in the United States), C. melo var. reticu-lous—the netted muskmelon, and C. melo var.inodorus—the late-ripening winter melons includinghoneydew, crenshaw, casaba, and Persian. Melonsslip off the vine when ripe.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) leaves are heart-shaped with three to seven lobes per leaf and areproduced on trailing vines. Plants are monoeciouswith yellow flowers that are approximately 13⁄4 inchesin diameter. Small “icebox” watermelons weigh 7–10pounds and are produced early. They are well suitedfor local sale and home gardens, especially in north-ern climates.

Although watermelons are self or cross pollinated byinsects, some female flowers will set fruit without pol-lination. If the pollen is incompatible with the ovules,then no fertilization will occur and seeds won’tdevelop. Normally watermelons have two sets ofchromosomes (they are diploid). Some watermelonshave four sets of chromosomes (tetraploid). Normaldiploid pollen is incompatible with tetraploid ovules,so seedless triploid (three sets of chromosomes)watermelons result from the cross. Seeds to produceseedless watermelons are expensive and are usuallystarted indoors as transplants. Seedless watermelonplants are weaker than seeded.

Pumpkins, squash, and gourdsPumpkin, squash, and gourd cultivars may be viningor bush-like. Leaves have three lobes and may bedeeply indented between the lobes (C. pepo) or mayappear entire (C. maxima). The plants are monoe-cious and bear both male and female yellow flowers.

The individual species within the genus Cucurbitaare characterized by the fruit size, shape, flavor,color, and by the shape of the fruit stem (table 2).Gourds grown for decoration are usually Cucurbitapepo (small) or C. maxima (large). Dipper, bottle, orbirdhouse gourds are cultivars of Lagenariasiceraria. Pumpkins, squash, and gourds can crosspollinate only with other cultivars of the samespecies, for example acorn squash can cross polli-nate with delicata, but not with butternut.

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lant descrip

tion

Table 2. Cucurbita species

Species TypesCucurbita pepo acorn, delicata, Jack-o-

lantern and pie pumpkins,patty pan, small gourds,spaghetti squash, summersquash, zucchini

Cucurbita maxima banana, buttercup,Hubbard, kabocha, largegourds, turban, very largepumpkins

Cucurbita moschata butternut

Site selectionVine crops require full sun, heat, and a long growingseason. Choose well-drained soils that warm quickly.Poorly drained soils tend to stay cool longer in thespring and contain less soil oxygen which increasesthe incidence of root rot diseases. Light, sandy soilswith high amounts of organic matter are best forcucurbits. Be sure irrigation is available on well-drained soils. Late-season melon crops perform wellon heavier soils because these soils retain moisture.Mineral soils are recommended over organic soilssince vine crops grown on peat or muck soils tend toproduce fruit with low sugar content and soft flesh.The ideal soil pH for vine crops is 6.0–6.8.

Cultivar selectionCucumbersChoose cultivars resistant to two or more diseases.Cucumber cultivars may be classified as pickling,slicing, greenhouse, or gherkin. Slicing cultivars arelong and tapered with smooth, glossy green skin anda few white spines. Some slicers are burpless types.

Pickling cucumbers tend to be blunt, angular, warty,and light green with black or white spines.

Greenhouse cultivars are seedless slicing typeswhich do not require insect pollination. They have

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Table 3. Recommended cultivars

Note: Choose cultivars according to your own situation and needs. Considerwhat your market demands, the length of your growing season, your soil,pests, diseases, irrigation, cultivars other growers like, and cultivars you per-sonally like. When trying a new cultivar, do not use it exclusively. Grow new trials next to old standbys so you may compare the characteristics objectively.

Cucumbers

Slicing

ArmenianDasher IIFanfareMarketmore 76Marketmore 86Orient (burpless)RaiderSalad BushSuyo Long (burpless)Tasty Green (burpless)

Pickling

Arkansas Little Leaf H-19CalypsoCounty FairLibertyRegal

Greenhouse

Aria

Melons

Muskmelon

ClassicDelicious 51EarliqueenEarlisweetGold StarHarperIroquoisSaticoySupermarketSweet ‘n Early

Honeydew

Orange BlossomTangiers

Watermelon

Golden CrownHoney Heart (seedless)Jack-of-Hearts (seedless)King-of-Hearts (seedless)ParadiseRoyal JubileeSugar BabySweet FavoriteYellow BabyYellow Doll

Pumpkins

Miniature

Baby BearBaby BooJack-Be-LittleMunchkinSpooktacular

Small

Baby PamNew England Pie

Medium

Autumn GoldCasperCinderella

(Rouge Vif d’Etampes)GhostriderLuminaSmall SugarSpiritTrick or Treat

Large

Atlantic GiantConnecticut FieldHowdenPrizewinner

Squash

Summer squash

Early Prolific StraightneckPeter PanScallopiniSeneca ButterbarSunburstSundanceTromboncino

Zucchini

ChiefiniClarimoreGold RushGreyziniSpineless Beauty

Winter squash

Burgess ButtercupButternut UltraCarnivalCream of the CropDelicataEmerald Bush ButtercupKabocha typesMoorgoldPasta (Spaghetti)Red Kuri ButtercupSugar LoafSweet DumplingSweet MamaTable AceTable GoldTable KingWaltham Butternut

5thin, dark green skin and milder flavor than field-grown slicing cucumbers.

Gherkins are Cucumis anguria, a different speciesfrom common cucumber. They are small, oval,prickly, and primarily pickled.

Melons Melons were initially bred to resist powdery mildewfungus, but today melons are bred for multiple dis-ease resistance. A wide range of flavors and sizes isavailable.

Recent breeding efforts in watermelon have focusedon disease resistance, yield, earliness, and smaller,more manageable sized fruit. Flesh color ranges frompink to red to yellow.

Pumpkins and squashCultivar variation in pumpkins is based on shape andsize of the fruit, color, and, for pie pumpkins, fleshquality.

Squash cultivars can be divided into summer squashwhich have thin skin and mature midseason, and win-ter squash which mature late in the season, storewell, and have a thick rind. Both summer squash andwinter squash come in a wide variety of flavors,shapes, colors, and sizes.

site selection Rcultivars

Planting, transplanting,and culture

Starting seeds and transplantingVine crops cannot tolerate root disturbances and donot transplant well. In areas which have a growingseason that is too short to produce a crop, you canstart seeds in a greenhouse and try to produce acrop from transplants. Start cucumbers 4–5 weeksbefore the last spring killing frost date (see figure 3);start muskmelons, watermelons, pumpkins, andsquash 3–4 weeks before.

You can buy or mix your own sterile potting mix forstarting transplants. The mix should include peat,sphagnum, or compost to retain moisture; vermiculite

or perlite for aeration; and mineral and nutrientsources to encourage growth after the first roots form.Fill plastic or polystyrene cell trays with media, ormake individual blocks with a soil blocker. Vine cropscan be sown in individual pots or individual cells intrays, but they do not tolerate transplanting fromundivided flats. Cells that are 2 inches in diameterwork well. Prevent bacterial and fungal infections bysterilizing transplant trays in a 10% bleach solutionbefore you plant. Sow cucumber and melon seeds1⁄2 inch deep and pumpkin and squash seeds1⁄2–1 inch deep. Label transplant trays with cultivarand planting date. Keep media moist but not wet.Germination will occur within 10 days. Maintain soiltemperature at 70°F with a heating mat or cable.Keep daytime temperatures in the greenhouse at70°–75°F and 60°–62°F at night. Melons grow best atslightly higher temperatures.

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Last spring killing frost First fall killing frost

September 13–19

September 20–26

September 27–October 3

October 4–10

October 11–17

October 18–24

Figure 3. Approximate dates for first and last killing frosts

May 31–June 6

May 24–30

May 17– 23

May 10–16

May 3–9

April 26–May 2

7Thin seedlings to one to two plants per cell or plugusing scissors to clip out the unwanted plants soroots are not disturbed. Four to seven days beforetransplanting into the field move plants into a coldframe where lower temperatures will harden them off.Harden off plants by reducing water, fertilizer, andtemperatures to acclimate them to field conditions.Vine crops cannot tolerate cool temperatures, so besure to bring them inside the greenhouse if the tem-perature threatens to dip below 40°–45°F.

Transplants can be planted to the field after all dan-ger of frost and when the soil temperature is at least60°F. Do not bury vine crop stems deeper than thetransplant soil line. Transplants can be planted with atractor-pulled mechanical transplanter or by hand.Handle plants gently at transplanting so you don’tdisturb roots.

Refer to table 4 for the estimated amount of seedrequired, seed planting depth, yield, planting date,spacing, and days to first harvest. Give vine cropsenough space to sprawl so each plant receives ade-quate amounts of water, nutrients, and light withoutcompetition. Spacing is especially important for inde-terminate cultivars. If growing Atlantic Giant orPrizewinner pumpkins, allow more space betweenplants and between rows to allow for their large size.Some of the bush-type squash and icebox water-melon can be grown closer together with only 36inches between plants. Small-scale market garden-ers often use a walk-behind plate seeder.

Soil preparationControl weeds prior to planting the bed. Work beds7–8 inches deep to promote deep rooting. Raisedbeds or hills are an alternative to the conventionalfield planting method. This planting system improvessoil drainage and allows access to the crop withoutcausing soil compaction. Raised beds are typically4–5 feet wide and 100 feet long. The width is deter-mined by the type of equipment used and by thecrop. Leave a 1-foot aisle on either side of each bedto accommodate foot traffic.

Cucumber cultureCucumbers are a warm-season crop and grow bestat temperatures between 60°F and 75°F.Temperatures above 90°F or below 60°F will slowgrowth and may cause bitter flavor. Soil temperaturesshould be at least 60°F at planting. In southernWisconsin, cucumbers should not be planted beforeMay 27. In northern Wisconsin, delay planting anadditional 1–2 weeks depending on location.Cucumbers don’t transplant well because brokenroots seal themselves off (suberize) rapidly, whichreduces the uptake of water and nutrients.Cucumbers can be trellised on strong wire mesh tosave space. In the field, a yield of 300–400bushels/acre can be expected with gynoecious culti-vars yielding more than monoecious cultivars.

planting

, transplanting

, and culture

Planting time Plants or seeds Seed Spacing (inches)b Days Estimated in southern WIa needed for depth Between Between to first yield (lb/ft

Vegetable Indoors Outdoors 100 ft of row (inches) rows plants harvestc of row)d

Cucumber May 27 (seeds) 1⁄3 oz 1–11⁄2 36–72 8–12 45–55 1–11⁄4

Muskmelon May 1 May 20 (plants) 34–50 plants 1⁄2–1 60–84 8–12 90–125 2

Pumpkin May 1 May 20 (plants) 34–50 plants 1–11⁄2 48–72 24–60 90–120 2

May 10 (seeds) 1⁄2 oz 1–11⁄2 48–72 24–60 90–120 2

Squash, summer May 20 1⁄2 oz 1–11⁄2 48–60 24–48 50–60 2

Squash, winter May 1 May 20 (plants) 34–50 plants 1–11⁄2 72–96 36–96 90–120 2

Watermelon May 1 May 20 (plants) 1⁄2 oz 1⁄2–1 60–96 36–96 75–125 2aPlant about 1 week later along the lower lake shore and in the central part of state and about 2 weeks later in northerncounties.

bIf using a plate-type seeder, spacing between plants will be determined by plate configuration.cCultivars vary greatly in time needed to reach harvest stage; extend the harvest season by planting cultivars of differentmaturity dates or by making successive plantings of the same cultivar.

dEstimated yields under less than ideal growing conditions; actual yields will vary widely with weather, soil fertility andcultural practices.

Table 4. Planting guide

Greenhouse cucumbers. Cucumbers can be grownon trellises in a greenhouse to extend the shortWisconsin growing season. Typically, early springand fall crops are produced in a plastic hoop house,avoiding the dark months of December, January, andFebruary. Read about the details of greenhousecucumber production in Commercial GreenhouseProduction: Cucumbers, from Kansas StateExtension. This publication covers costs, returns,construction, heating, ventilation, cucumber varieties,growth, training, watering, fertilizer needs, pests, anddiseases.

Muskmelon and watermelon cultureMelons require a long growing season of 90–125 dayswith temperatures averaging between 70°–80°F foroptimal growth. Melon seedlings are transplanted insouthern Wisconsin after May 20 and 2 weeks later forareas along Lake Michigan and in the northern part ofthe state. Plant melons according to the spacing intable 4 and the growth habit of the cultivar. Once theplants begin to set fruit, only allow one to two fruit togrow per plant. This will produce optimum size andquality fruit. Muskmelons are sensitive to environmen-tal conditions and will become bitter if temperaturesare too high, if they receive too little or too much water,or if the weather is too cloudy during ripening.

Pumpkin and squash culturePumpkins and squash are warm-season crops whichmay be direct seeded or transplanted. Both cropsgrow best at temperatures of 65°–75°F. Seeds can besown as early as May 10 in southern Wisconsin butgrowers should refrain from setting out transplantsuntil after May 20. Growers in the northern part of thestate or along Lake Michigan should delay plantingby 2 weeks. Seeds will rot if soil is too cool (below60°F), especially if soil is wet. If the crop is directseeded, plant the seed 1 inch deep in the soil.Summer squash requires 50–60 days to first harvestwhile pumpkins and winter squash require 90–120days. You can extend your summer squash harvestby sowing seeds every 2–3 weeks.

Season extendersYou can lengthen the growing season by protectingplants from late spring frosts and early fall frosts.There are a variety of ways to prolong the growingseason, including planting on a southern slope, cre-ating a warmer microclimate using floating row cov-ers, dark plastic mulch to warm the soil, clear plastictunnels, cold frames, or using windbreaks to shieldplants.

Plastic mulch. Plastic mulch raises the soil tempera-ture early in the season and can boost crop maturityby 1–3 weeks. In Wisconsin, vine crops respond verywell to growing on dark plastic mulch. Plastic mulchalso suppresses weeds and reduces some diseaseproblems by providing a barrier between soilbornepathogens and leaves. Some growers plant a row ofvine crops along the edge of the field on yellow orgold plastic to attract and control cucumber beetles.Lay wide strips of 1.25–1.5 mil black polyethyleneplastic over the beds before planting, using a plasticmulch layer or by hand. Place soil along all theedges of the plastic to anchor it from wind. Clearplastic raises the soil temperature more than darkplastic, but it doesn’t shade out weeds. If puddlesform on top of the plastic, poke tiny drain holes toprevent a wet environment suitable for fungi.

Cut or burn holes (with a propane torch) into theplastic where you want to plant. Remove loose plas-tic flaps which might abrade tender stems. Plantsgrown on dark plastic need more water. Before layingplastic, consider placing drip irrigation tape alongplant rows under the plastic.

Floating row covers. Floating row covers of spun-bonded polypropylene allow sunlight and water topass through the fabric, but prevent insects fromreaching the plants. Row covers can be used to coverlow-growing crops and protect them from frost. Theyalso serve as windbreaks and protect crops againstinsect pests. Depending on the fabric weight, row cov-ers can provide 4°–8°F of frost protection.

Row covers are not typically used for warm-seasoncrops such as vine crops but they may serve as atemporary emergency frost protection blanket.

Row covers can be held in place by burying theedges or by weights such as reebar. Completely sealall four edges to the ground if you use row covers as

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an insect barrier. If not using row covers as an insectbarrier, remove covers when the average dailytemperature is warm enough for crop growth. Besure to vent the beds on hot days and to let plantsharden off for a few days to prevent burning beforecompletely removing the row covers. Harden plantsby removing covers on overcast days or for a fewhours on sunny days.

Tunnels and cold frames. Slitted clear poly tunnelsincrease daytime temperatures 10°–30°F, and pro-vide 1°–4°F of frost protection. Cold frames can beused to harden off crops before transplanting into thefield. Consult the references listed at the end of thispublication for more information on cold frames andtunnels.

Windbreaks. A grove of trees to block the prevailingwinds can serve as a windbreak. Windbreak effectstypically extend to 21⁄2 times the height of the wind-break. For example, a 10-foot-tall windbreak willreduce air flow up to 25 feet away on the lee side.Less-permanent windbreaks include planting a tallcover crop such as grain rye upwind or between rowsto reduce wind gusts or placing a semipermeable fab-ric or poly fence on the upwind edge of the field.

Soils and nutrientmanagementObtain a soil test for available nutrients before plant-ing a field for the first time and routinely thereafter atleast once every 3 years. After 3 years, soil condi-tions can change enough to make your current fertil-ity management program obsolete. For informationon how to collect good samples and where to sendthem for analysis, see Extension publicationSampling Soils for Testing (A2100).

Routine soul tests include pH, organic matter con-tent, phosphorus, and potassium. Special tests areavailable on request for nitrate-nitrogen, calcium,magnesium, sulfur, boron, manganese, and zinc. Youwill receive the results of your soil test along with fer-tilizer recommendations based on your cropping his-tory and planned use of the field.

Soil pH. Soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8 is recom-mended for maximum fruit set of cucumbers andbest production of melons. Pumpkins, squash, andgourds grow well in a wide pH range of 5.5–7.5.Watermelons do best in pH 6.0–6.8, but can tolerateacid soils of 5.5–6.0.

Fertilizer needs. Plants take up nitrogen as nitrate(NO3

–) or ammonium (NH4+), phosphorus as phos-

phate (P2O5), and potassium as potash (K2O). Thesechemicals, as fertilizers, can come from organic orinorganic sources. With adequate environmental con-ditions, soil microbes break down organic matter andsupply the chemicals that plants need to their roots.Organic fertilizers can also improve soil tilth and health.Inorganic fertilizers can be used to supply a morereadily available form of primary nutrients to plants.

Organic fertilizers can come from a variety ofsources such as manures, compost, fish meal, andbone meal. Each material contains varying amountsof specific nutrients. Table 5 lists organic fertilizersand the amounts of nutrients in each. For more infor-mation on this subject, refer to Extension publicationOrganic Soil Conditioners (A2305).

9soils and

nutrient manag

ement

Table 5. Nutrient composition of various organic fertilizers

Material N P2O5 K2O

Alfalfa hay 2.0–3.0 0.2–0.6 2.0–3.2

Bone meal 0.2–1.0 12.0–14.0 —

Composta 0.5–3.5 0.5–1.0 1.0–2.0

Fish meal 9.0–11.0 5.0–8.0 0.0–3.0

Greensand — — 7.0

Manure, cow 0.5–0.7 0.2–0.4 0.5–0.8

Manure, sheep 1.0–2.0 0.7–1.0 0.5–2.0

Manure, poultry 1.1–1.7 1.0–1.3 0.5–1.0

Rock phosphate — 20.0–30.0 —

Soybean meal 7.0 0.5 2.3

aNutrient analysis of compost will vary based on thesource.

10Nitrogen. Refer to table 6 for the amount of nitrogento apply annually, and split it into two or more appli-cations. At planting, broadcast nitrogen and work itinto the soil. When the plants have two or three trueleaves, band the second nitrogen application. A thirdapplication, if required, should be applied when thevines begin to fill the rows. It is important to provideadequate nitrogen as a deficiency will limit growth,reduce fruit set, and impair color development. Withcucumbers, however, too much soil nitrogen maycause a bitter flavor.

Potassium and phosphorous. Potassium is sufficientfor growing any of the vine crops if the test results fallbetween 100–200 ppm depending on the subsoiltype. Optimum levels of soil phosphorus also dependon the subsoil type and range from 26–50 ppm.Phosphorus and potassium should be applied atplanting at the rates suggested in table 6. The amountsto apply will be specified on your soil test report.

IrrigationMoisture stress can reduce crop yields. If leavesbegin to wilt midday, plants are moisture stressed.Plants that wilt intermittently may produce smalleryields, while plants that wilt frequently or that wilt toolong die due to irreversible cell damage.

Both drip and overhead sprinkler irrigation systemsare effective, such as trickle tape, solid set, and trav-eler hose wheel. Drip irrigation works particularly wellwith black plastic mulch that is used as a seasonextender.

All vine crops require supplemental irrigation of 1inch of water every week to assure a constant supplyof moisture, particularly during bloom and fruit devel-opment. Pumpkins and squash are especially heavywater users. When irrigating vine crops, it is impor-tant to keep water away from the crown of the plantas even a few hours of crown wetness can damagethe root system. Trickle or drip irrigation works best tosupply adequate moisture without wetting the foliage.

Table 6. Annual nitrogen, phosphate (P2O5), and potash (K2O) recommendations

Nitrogen Phosphate and potash

Organic Amount to applya

matter Amount to apply Yield goal P2O5 K2O

Vegetable % lb/a oz/100 sq ft lb/a oz/100 sq ft lb/a oz/100 sq ft

Cucumber <2 100 3.75 300–400 bu/acre 10 0.4 30 1.1

2.0–4.9 80 3.0

5–10 60 2.2

>10 40 1.5

Melon <2 100 3.75 8–10 tons/acre 40 1.5 140 5.25

2.0–4.9 80 3.0

5–10 60 2.2

>10 40 1.5

Pumpkin <2 100 3.75 15–20 tons/acre 50 1.9 110 4.1

and squash 2.0–4.9 80 3.0

5–10 60 2.2

>10 40 1.5aAmounts of P2O5 and K2O are for optimum soil test levels. Apply half the given rate if the soil test is high and omit if the soil test is exces-sively high. If soil test is low or very low, increase rates according to the soil test recommendations.

11Irrigation scheduling software is available from theUniversity of Wisconsin-Extension to help you deter-mine your irrigation needs. For more information onthis software, contact your county Extension agent.

Harvest, handling, and storage

CucumbersHarvest fresh-market cucumbers by hand when fruitreach a marketable size. Slicing cucumbers are typi-cally 6–8 inches long while greenhouse-growncucumbers are 14–16 inches. Harvest will typicallybegin a few days to 12 days after pollination. Harvestthree times a week when fruit is growing rapidly tosustain plant productivity. Oversize fruit left on thevine will prevent subsequent fruit from developing.

Wipe cucumbers clean or wash them in a water bath.Pack them in waxed cardboard boxes. Maintain highhumidity and provide evaporative cooling by liningthe box with a clean, damp cloth. Cucumbers can bestored for up to 2 weeks at 40°–45°F and relativehumidity of 85–95%.

Muskmelons and watermelonsHarvest muskmelons by hand when they reach thestage referred to as “half-slip” or “full-slip.” At thisstage, the fruit readily separates (slips) from thestem, leaving a clean stem cavity or scar.Muskmelons are usually harvested every 3 days.Remove field heat as soon as possible to preventfruit deterioration. Do this by transporting muskmel-ons to a cooler immediately after harvest, or byhydrocooling them in a cool water bath for a few min-utes. Dry muskmelons and keep the skin dry in stor-age to prevent decay. Pack muskmelons in waxedcardboard boxes. Muskmelons harvested betweenhalf-slip and full-slip can be stored for about 1 weekat 55°–60°F with a relative humidity of 85–95%.

It is difficult to know when to harvest watermelons. Ifyour crop is large enough, you can periodically sam-ple fruit for flavor. Another method is to observe the

part of the fruit that touches the soil, called theground spot. When the ground spot changes fromwhite to creamy yellow, the melon is ripe and readyfor harvest. A deep-yellow ground spot indicatesoverripe fruit. A third method to determine water-melon ripeness involves observing the tendril nearestthe melon. If the tendril is firm and green, the melonis not yet ripe. If the tendril is wilting, the melon isripe. If the tendril is completely wilted, the melon isoverripe. Watermelons can be washed or simplywiped clean. Pack watermelons in waxed cardboardboxes. Watermelons will keep for 1 week if stored at55°–60°F with a relative humidity of 85–95%.

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Harvesting&packing tips

When you harvest vine crops, change yourposition often to minimize stress and fatigue toyour body. You might wear kneepads or sit ona small cart. Use garden carts and wagons asmuch as possible to minimize lifting and handcarrying heavy produce. Standardized ventedplastic containers that stack are easy to loadand unload, and clean.

With a smooth level floor in the packing area, apalletized packing and storage system can bedesigned to fit small-scale operations (smallpallets moved with a hand-pulled pallet-jack)or large operations (pallets moved by forklift).Heavy boxes of produce can be moved fromone area to another on roller tables.

Layout your washing and packing area to mini-mize stooping, lifting, and carrying. Set upscreen tables or water baths at table height.Ideally, tables could be adjusted to matcheach worker, so that work is performed at aheight between wrist and elbow.

12Pumpkins and squashSummer squash is ready to hand harvest 7–8 weeksafter seeding. Harvest every 3–5 days when fruit are2–3 inches in diameter and up to 7 inches long tomaintain plant productivity. Some fresh-market cus-tomers seek “baby” or immature summer squash.Squash blossoms are edible and some growers har-vest and sell them. Handle summer squash gentlysince it bruises easily. You can cushion a waxedcardboard box by lining it with a dry towel. Summersquash is sensitive to cold temperatures and doesnot need hydrocooling. Squash can be wiped cleanwith a damp cloth. Summer squash should be storedat 40°–45°F with 95% relative humidity and will keepfor 1 week.

Winter squash and pumpkins are hand harvested3–4 months after planting, when the outer skin resistsfingernail pressure. After harvest, pumpkins and win-ter squash should be “cured” by exposing them totemperatures of 80°F for 7–10 days to toughen orsuberize the skin before long-term storage. Wintersquash and pumpkins can tolerate some frost beforeharvest without harming quality. Both winter squashand pumpkins should be stored at 40°–45°F and arelative humidity of 85–95% and will keep for 2–3months. Unwashed fruit will last longer in storagesince handling may abrade skin and open it up tobacterial or fungal infection. For market, pumpkinsand winter squash can be simply wiped clean. Packthem in waxed cardboard boxes.

Insect management

Seed corn maggotDescription: The seedcorn maggot (Hylemyaplatura) is the larva of a

fly that resembles a housefly. The larvae are yellow-ish-white, 1⁄4 inch long when fully grown, legless, andwedge-shaped with a pointed head. The pupae arebrown, 1⁄5 inch long, cylindrical in shape, androunded at both ends. The flies are dark gray, 1⁄5 inchlong, and their wings are held overlapped over theirbodies while at rest. This pest can be potentially seri-ous every year.

Life cycle: Seed corn maggots overwinter as darkbrown pupae in the soil. The adult flies emerge inApril. They’re attracted to areas with high levels oforganic matter where they lay their eggs. Theseareas include fall-seeded cover crops that have beendisked within 3 weeks of planting. Once the eggshatch, the pale yellowish-white, legless maggotsbegin boring into the newly planted seeds. There arethree generations per year, but the first generationlarvae, which feed between April 15 and June 1, arethe most damaging.

Damage/Symptoms: Damaged seeds may fail to ger-minate or may produce stunted plants.

Management: If seed corn maggots have been aproblem in your field in past years, you can take sev-eral steps to prevent future outbreaks. Disk or plowcover crops into the ground at least 4 weeks beforeplanting. This allows the organic matter to decom-pose before the seeds are planted. Plant into warmsoils to speed germination and shorten the periodthat the crop is susceptible to damage. If you’reunable to plow cover crops early enough and the soilis too cool for rapid germination, consider an insecti-cidal seed treatment if planting in problem areas.Scouting is not recommended since there are nocontrols once an outbreak occurs.

Conservation of natural enemiesNot all insects are pests. Beneficial insects prey on

other insects, helping to keep popula-tions in check. You can take

advantage of this free naturalresource by minimizing the useof broad-spectrum insecticides.

For more information about biologi-cal controls, see Extension publication

Biological Control of Insects and Mites: AnIntroduction to Beneficial Natural Enemies

and Their Use in Pest Management (NCR481).

13Striped and spotted cucumber beetles

Description: Striped cucumber bee-tles (Diabrotica vittatum) and spottedcucumber beetles (Cerotoma trifur-cata) are serious pests of vine crops.In Wisconsin, the striped cucumberbeetle is more of a problem. Bothinsects are yellow-green in color and1⁄5 inch long. The striped cucumberbeetle has three black stripes run-ning the length of its back while thespotted has 12 black spots on itsback. The adult striped cucumberbeetle resembles the western cornrootworm beetle, which can often befound feeding on the pollen of cucur-

bit blossoms later in the summer. To distinguishbetween the two, turn them over. The cucumber bee-tle has a black abdomen while the western corn root-worm has a yellow-green abdomen.

Life cycle: Striped cucumber beetles overwinter asadults in protected sites. They become active in mid-to late May. After mating, the female lays eggs in thesoil at the base of cucurbits. The beetles areattracted to the cucurbitacin produced by the plants.Once the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on plant rootsfor 2–3 weeks. They pupate in the soil. There is onegeneration per year in Wisconsin. Spotted cucumberbeetles do not overwinter in Wisconsin. Adult beetlesmigrate into the state in early to mid-July. Becausethey arrive later in the season, they pose less of aproblem than their striped counterpart.

Damage/Symptoms: Feeding damage by the stripedcucumber beetle larvae can stunt or kill seedlings ortransplants. Adult beetles feed on the abovegroundplant parts and fruit. More importantly, these beetlesspread the bacteria that causes bacterial wilt. Thisdisease plugs the water-conducting vessels of theplant, eventually resulting in plant death. The adultcucumber beetles are such efficient carriers (vectors)of the bacteria that serious crop damage can occur ifonly 10% of the beetles are infective.

Management: Scout fields two to three times perweek early in the season for early migrants and theearly emergence of the overwintering population.Beetles are usually localized in the field and spottreatments are effective. Some growers plant a row ofvine crops near the upwind edge of the field on yel-low or gold plastic mulch. This colored mulch attractscucumber beetles to the crops in that row where theycan be killed or removed. Muskmelon and cucumbersare particularly susceptible to bacterial wilt; treatmentis required to prevent disease transmission.Watermelon is not susceptible to bacterial wilt, so donot treat except to prevent heavy feeding damage.Insecticides kill bees, so spray late in the day or atnight to protect these important pollinators. Discontinuetreatments after the initial peak declines as the insec-ticides may reduce fruit set or cause flowers to abort.

Squash vine borerDescription: Thesquash vine borer(Melittia cucurbitae)is an annual pest ofpumpkins andsquash. The borer is11⁄2–2 inches long.The adult is a clear-wing moth that hascloudy greenish-brown forewings andtransparent hindwingswith a fringe of red-

dish-brown hairs. The wingspan is 11⁄4–11⁄2 inches.

Life cycle: Squash vine borers overwinter as pupaein the soil. They emerge as moths in July. Femalemoths lay small, brown eggs singly at the base ofplants. The eggs hatch 7 to 10 days later. The younglarvae bore into the plant where they feed for 14–30days. Fully grown larvae leave the plant to pupate.There is one generation per year.

Damage/Symptoms: The first symptom of feedingdamage is when plants wilt midday. As the larvaetunnel through the vines they destroy the vessels thattransport water. These wilt symptoms may be con-fused with those caused by bacterial wilt or Fusariumwilt. Look for entrance holes near the base of wilting

insect manag

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Striped

Spotted

Adult moth

Larva

14pumpkin or squash stems and for sawdust-like frassnear these holes. If frass is present, split the stemlengthwise to confirm the presence of larvae. Fieldsthat have been severely damaged in the past aremore likely to be damaged again.

Management: Currently, there are no treatmentthresholds for squash vine borers. Begin monitoringfields once 900 degree days have accumulatedusing a base temperature of 50°F (see the sidebarfor information on calculating degree days). Treat at1000 DD50 when moths are laying eggs. Treat fieldsif you observe adult moths while pumpkin or squashvines are less than 2 feet long. Treat fields every 5–7days over the 3-week egg-laying period to controlnewly hatched larvae before they burrow into the vine.

Disease managementVine crops are susceptible to many plant diseases.The diseases described here are economicallyimportant. With the exception of viruses, which caninfect plants at any stage of growth, diseases arelisted in the order they’re likely to appear.

Damping offHosts and severity: Damping off is one of the first dis-eases to appear after seedlings emerge. All veg-etable seedlings are susceptible. Three fungi arecommonly associated with damping off: Pythiumspp., Rhizoctonia solani, and Thielaviopsis basicola.

Temperature affects the rateof development of plantsand insects. Cold weatherslows development whilewarm weather accelerates it.For this reason it is mislead-ing to describe developmentin terms of time alone. Tomonitor crop developmentand predict pest behavior,professional pest managersoften use a system thattakes into account the accu-mulation of heat with pass-ing time. This system isbased on degree days (DD).

A degree day (DD) is a unitof measure that occurs foreach degree above a basetemperature during a 24-hour period. The base tem-

perature is the temperaturebelow which there is noplant or insect development.Specific insects have spe-cific base temperatures.Most plants use a base tem-perature of 50°F. Cool-sea-son plants, such as peas,grow in cooler temperaturesand have a base tempera-ture of 40°F. Begin recordingdegree day accumulationsfor Wisconsin on March 1.

To monitor plant and insectdevelopment using degreedays, you will need a maxi-mum/minimum thermometerto obtain the daily high andlow temperatures. Calculatedegree days using theequations below.

Example: Assume you haveaccumulated 200 degreedays to date using a basetemperature of 40°F. If yes-terday’s high temperaturewas 75°F and the low was60°F, then the daily averagetemperature would be67.5°F [(75 + 60) ÷ 2]. Tocalculate the degree dayaccumulation, subtract thedaily average from the basetemperature for a total of27.5DD (67.5 – 40). Add thisnumber to the total numberof degree days to date(27.5 + 200) for a new totalof 227.5.

(daily higha + daily lowb) ÷ 2 = daily average temperaturedaily average temperature – base temperature = degree day accumulationaUse 86°F if the high temperature for the day is more than 86°F.bIf the daily low is less than the base temperature, use the base temperature.

Calculating degree days

The pathogens infect plant roots soon after germina-tion. The tissue at or below the soil line becomes softand can no longer support the plant, causing it totopple. As plants mature, the stems become morewoody and resistant to infection. Damping off is oftenlimited to low spots of the field. Heavy, wet soils tendto have more problems with this disease than lighter,well-drained soils. Excess nitrogen can increase theincidence of disease.

Disease cycle: The fungi that cause damping off aresoilborne and infect the roots of seedlings soon aftergermination. Rhizoctonia solani can live indefinitely inthe soil. Pythium and Thielaviopsis basicola can live2–3 years.

Symptoms: The first sign of infection is the presenceof small, firm, dark green spots. These spots laterturn tan or brown and collapse. In wet weather,threadlike, white to cream-colored mycelium maycover the lesions. Secondary soft rots may succeedRhizoctonia infections.

Management: To prevent outbreaks on transplants,use sterile, soilless potting mix. Direct-seeded plant-ings may be protected by treating the seed with afungicide prior to planting. Because Rhizoctoniasolani can live indefinitely in the soil, rotate out ofvine crops for at least 4 years. Corn and small grainsare not susceptible. Harvest ripe fruit promptly anddestroy crop residues to prevent the buildup of thepathogen in the soil.

Alternaria leaf blightHosts and severity: Alternaria leaf blight is a fungaldisease caused by the pathogen Alternaria cucume-rina. Infected plants eventually lose their leaves,reducing fruit size and quality. It can be particularlysevere on muskmelon but also affects cucumbers,squash, and watermelon. Infection is most likely tooccur on vine crops weakened by poor growing con-ditions or aging.

Disease cycle: The fungus overwinters in infectedplant debris, cucurbit weeds, and infected seed.Spores may be spread by wind, water, and humanactivity. The fungus survives for less than a year.

Symptoms: Symptoms first appear in the middle ofthe season on the leaves nearest the center of theplant. The lesions are tan, often water-soaked, androughly circular in shape. The lesions become target-shaped and may enlarge to 3⁄4 inch in diameter onmuskmelons and 1⁄3 inch on cucumbers, squash, andwatermelons. Infected fruit have circular, sunkenbrown spots that develop into a dark olive-green orblack powdery mat.

Management: To help prevent this disease, maintainproper soil fertility and moisture throughout the sea-son. Also, avoid working in the field while the soil iswet to reduce compaction. If the crop becomesinfected, rotate out of cucurbits for at least 1 year.Edisto is a resistant muskmelon cultivar; there are noresistant cultivars of cucumbers, squash, or water-melon available for Wisconsin. Fungicide treatmentswill protect healthy plants. Begin treatment as soonas symptoms appear.

Angular leaf spotHosts and severity: Angular leaf spot is a bacterialdisease that can be economically important oncucumbers, honeydew melon, and zucchini grown inWisconsin. The bacteria, Pseudomonas syringae pv.lachrymans, infects leaves, stems, and fruit.

Disease cycle: The bacteria survives in the soil onplant debris for up to 2 years. It is spread by cucum-ber beetles and human activity. Prolonged leaf wet-ness favors infection.

Symptoms: Initial lesions appear as small, tan, water-soaked spots that are delineated by the leaf veins.As the lesions enlarge, the dead centers fall out.Infected fruit may appear healthy but later developsoft spots as lesions develop beneath the rind. Thelesions eventually crack open, providing an entrypoint for soft rot organisms.

Management: To reduce the likelihood of infection,rotate out of cucurbits for at least 2 years and usedisease-free seed. Resistant cucumber varieties areavailable, including Calypso, Dasher, Dasher II,Pioneer, Raider, and Regal. Copper fungicidesapplied every 5–10 days may be helpful, particularlyafter rain or wind storms.

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isease manag

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Powdery mildewHosts and severity: Powdery mildew is a foliar dis-ease that occurs late in the season on cucumbers,gourds, muskmelons, pumpkins, and squash. It isless common on watermelon. On susceptible crops,this disease is often severe enough to significantlyreduce yields.

Disease cycle: Two fungi are responsible for powderymildew: Erysiphe cichoracearum and Sphaerothecafuliginea. These fungi overwinter on perennial hostsin southern states. Each year fungal spores areblown north. Infection is favored by warm, humidweather.

Symptoms: Symptoms first appear as pale yellowspots on the oldest leaves. As the disease progresses,a white or brownish powdery growth covers affectedplants. Eventually, affected plants wilt and die.

Management: For cucumbers and muskmelons, plantresistant varieties. On susceptible crops, fungicidesmay be applied every 5–7 days once the diseaseappears in the field to protect healthy plants.Continue treatment until harvest.

Bacterial wiltHosts and severity: Bacterial wilt is a common andsevere disease of vine crops. Cucumbers andmuskmelon are the most severely infected, butpumpkins and squash are also susceptible.

Disease cycle: The bacterium, Erwinia tracheiphila,overwinters in the cucumber beetle. It is transmittedwhen the beetle feeds. Once the bacteria is in theplant, it travels through the vascular system andblocks the food- and water-conducting vessels.Seven to ten days after infection occurs, leavesbegin to flag or wilt.

Symptoms: Initially, leaves wilt during the day butrecover at night or on cloudy days. To distinguishwilting caused by Erwinia from that caused by thesquash vine borer or Fusarium, cut the stems ofsymptomatic plants. Hold the cut edges together for10 seconds, then slowly pull them apart. If you find asticky white sap, the plant is infected with the bacte-ria. Plants of any age are susceptible.

Management: There is no treatment for infectedplants. It is therefore important to control cucumberbeetles early in the season to prevent spread of thisdisease. Remove infected plants immediately or theywill serve as a reservoir for the pathogen. Considergrowing extra transplants to replace plants lost earlyin the season.

Fusarium wiltHosts and severity: A second wilt disease of cucur-bits is Fusarium wilt. Cucumbers, muskmelon, andwatermelon are all susceptible. Each host crop issusceptible only to its own particular strain of the fun-gus. Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum affectscucumbers, F. oxysporum f.sp. melonis affectsmuskmelon, and F. oxysporum f.sp. niveum affectswatermelon. Within each strain of the fungus, differ-ent races attack different cultivars.

Disease cycle: Fusarium is a soil-borne fungus thatoverwinters in plant debris, seed, and soil. Thepathogen can attack plants at any stage of growth.Warm temperatures and excessive wetness favorinfection.

Symptoms: On infected seedlings, the cotyledonsand small leaves turn pale green and wilt. Olderplants wilt midday starting at the tips of the runnersand moving toward the crown of the plant. Inmuskmelon, early symptoms appear as a stunting oryellowing with a water-soaked tan streak along thevine. Vines may crack open and ooze sap. Late inthe disease, vines may be covered with white or pinkmycelium. To distinguish these wilt symptoms fromthose caused by bacterial wilt or squash vine borer,cut open the lower stem. Plants infected withFusarium will show yellow, brown, or reddish-browndiscoloration.

Management: Use resistant varieties to prevent prob-lems with Fusarium wilt. Rotating fields out of cucur-bits for 5–10 years is also advised to prevent thebuildup of the pathogen in the soil.

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AnthracnoseHosts and severity: Anthracnose is a destructive fun-gal disease of the foliage, stems, and fruit of water-melons, gourds, muskmelons, and cucumbers.

Disease cycle: The fungus that causes anthracnose(Colletotrichum lagenarium) overwinters in plantdebris, soil, or on seed. It may survive in the soil forup to 2 years. Moisture is required for the spread ofdisease and warm, rainy weather favors infection.

Symptoms: Symptoms begin as small, yellowish orwater-soaked lesions that rapidly enlarge and turnbrown. On fruit, the symptoms are circular, sunken,water-soaked lesions with a black center. Fruit infec-tion usually doesn’t appear until fruit is nearly mature.Although the lesions don’t penetrate the edible flesh,they may serve as entry points for secondary rots.

Management: The best way to control anthracnose isto plant resistant varieties. Using certified seed androtating fields out of cucurbits for at least 3 years isalso helpful. If infection should occur, fungicides maybe used to protect healthy plants from becominginfected. Begin spraying when plants have twoleaves and continue every 7–10 days until harvest.During rainy periods, treat every 5–7 days.

VirusesMore than 30 virus diseases affect cucurbits. Manycan be very destructive and difficult to control. Someviruses are seedborne while others must be transmit-ted to susceptible plants by insect vectors. Once aplant becomes infected with a virus, there is not cure.Therefore, prevention is the best control. Control thevector that transmits the disease, control weeds thatmay serve as reservoirs for the virus, or use resistantcultivars.

Weed managementWeed management is essential for crops to producemaximum yields. Weeds compete with crop plantsfor sunlight, water, nutrients, and space. Beforeplanting, reduce perennial weed populations bysmothering with a cover crop (such as buckwheat),by solarization with black plastic, by hand removal,or by using herbicide sprays. Pre-emergent herbi-cides may be used to clean up any annual weedspresent in the field at the time of planting. Vine cropsin Wisconsin are often grown on black plastic, whichacts as a weed barrier. A thick straw mulch will alsoprevent weed germination and growth. After planting,use shallow cultivation or hoe regularly between therows to control annual weeds.

Once the vines begin to fill in between the rows andthe leaves shade the soil surface, weed seeds willnot receive adequate sunlight to germinate. Refer toExtension publication Commercial VegetableProduction in Wisconsin (A3422) for specific herbi-cide recommendations.

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Additional reading

CultureCommercial Greenhouse Production: Cucumbers.William J. Lamont Jr. and Charles W. Marr. KansasState Extension.

Direct Marketing of Farm Produce and HomeGoods—Direct Marketing Alternatives and Strategiesfor Beginning and Established Producers (A3602).John Cottingham, James Hovland, et al. 1994.University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Growing For Market Newsletter. FairplainPublications, P.O. Box 3747, Lawrence, Kansas66046. A monthly newsletter with practical articles onall aspects of small-scale fresh market farming,

Harvesting Vegetables from the Home Garden(A2727). H.C. Harrison. 1996. University ofWisconsin-Extension.

Knotts Handbook for Vegetable Growers, FourthEdition. Donald N. Maynard and George J.Hochmuth. 1997. Wiley.

The New Organic Grower. Second Edition. EliotColeman. 1995. Chelsea Green Publishing.

The New Seed Starters Handbook. Nancy Bubel.1988. Rodale Press.

Producing Vegetable Crops. Fourth Edition. John M.Swiader, George W. Ware, and J.P. McCollum. 1992.Interstate Publishing.

Soil Test Recommendations for Field, Vegetable, andFruit Crops (A2809). K.A. Kelling, L.G. Bundy, S.M.Combs, and J.B. Peters. 1998. University ofWisconsin-Extension.

Storing Vegetables at Home (A1135). H.C. Harrison.1996. University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Rodale’s All New Encyclopedia of OrganicGardening. Edited by Fern Marshall Bradley andBarbara W. Ellis.1992. Rodale Press.

World Vegetables: Principles, Production, andNutritive Values. Second Edition. Vincent E. Rubatzkyand Mas Yamaguchi. 1997. Chapman and Hall.

PestsBiological Control of Insects and Mites: An introduc-tion to Beneficial Natural Enemies and Their Use inPest Management (NCR481). Daniel L. Mahr andNino M. Ridgway. 1993. University of Wisconsin-Extension

Commercial Vegetable Production in Wisconsin(A3422). L.K. Binning, C.M. Boerboom, et al.Updated annually. University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Disease-Resistant Vegetables for the Home Garden(A3110). D.E. Brown-Rytlewski, M.F. Heimann, et al.Updated annually. University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Identifying Diseases of Vegetables. A. A. MacNab, A.F. Sherf, and J.K. Springer. 1983. Pennsylvania StateUniversity College of Agriculture.

Pests of the Garden and Small Farm: A Grower’sGuide to Using Less Pesticide. Mary Louise Flint.1990. University of California, publication #3332.

Rodale’s Color Handbook of Garden Insects. AnnaCarr. 1979. Rodale Press.

Vegetable Insect Management with Emphasis on theMidwest. Rick Foster and Brian Flood, editors. 1995.Meister Publishing Company.

Weeds of the North Central States. North CentralRegional Research Publication No. 281. 1981.University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Collegeof Agriculture.

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Copyright © 1998 University of Wisconsin-System Board of Regents and University of Wisconsin-Extension,Cooperative Extension.

Authors: K.A. Delahaut is horticulture outreach specialist for the Integrated Pest Management Program, Collegeof Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Extension,Cooperative Extension. A.C. Newenhouse is horticulture outreach specialist for the Wisconsin Healthy Farmers,Healthy Profits Project of the department of Biological Systems Engineering, College of Agricultural and LifeSciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Produced by Cooperative Extension Publishing, University ofWisconsin-Extension.

University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture andWisconsin counties, publishes this information to further the purpose of the May 8 and June 30, 1914 Acts ofCongress; and provides equal opportunities and affirmative action in employment and programming. If youneed this material in an alternative format, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Programs orcall Cooperative Extension Publishing at 608-262-8076.

This publication is available from your Wisconsin county Extension office or from CooperativeExtension Publishing, Rm. 170, 630 W. Mifflin St., Madison, Wisconsin, 53703. Phone 608-262-3346. Please call for publication availability before publicizing.

A3688 Growing Pumpkins and Other Vine Crops in Wisconsin: A Guide for Fresh-Market Growers I-1-98-2M-500

Partial funding for the printing of this publication was through a grant from the Wisconsin SustainableAgriculture Program.