THis year I planted my squash about 2ft apart in rows 6ft apart. I put about 5 seeds in each little "hill". I ended up with about 4-5 plants per hill. Do I need to thin them out? How many plants per "hill"? We have alot of pests around here so I really want strong healthy plants that can resist disease and pests.

Also, I gave them som foliar fish/kelp fertilizer yesterday. I am new to foliar feeding. How often should I do this for squash?

On the suggestion of a countrysider, I am trying white flour on my squash to kill cuke beetles. Supposed to be indigestable to them, so they get constipated and die. Can't wait to see how it works. Has anyone else tried this?

I planted sweet potatoes in between my squash plants because I was told by a farmer this would eliminate squash bugs (doesn't work for cuke beetles). They hate the smell of the sweets. I also planted a test patch with no sweets in between. Lo and bohold! The sweet free patch is already being attacked by the squash bugs. Haven't seen any on the companion planted patch! The patches are right next to one another too! Wish I knew more of these little tricks.

-- TIffani Cappello (cappello@alltel.net), July 05, 2001

Answers

Thank you Tiffani for sharing your test info..........I have sweet potato vines that I will set out in my squash today. I had read it here but had not heard anyone give actual results. We are late here in Mich. but I imagine any day now the squash bugs will show up. I don't thin my hills but I "mound over" the vines in various places and they root there as well as at the center. I water, compost and mulch them well and they do fine.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), July 05, 2001.

Tiffani, Thanks for the sweet potato idea. I never heard of that one. I use one part salt to 4 parts flour to dust all my plants. Did my squash with it and also my green beans and potatoes. Seems to work so far. I will keep watching. I would also like to hear more of these home - natural remedies. Joanie

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy. net), July 05, 2001.