Market Farming

[Marcie Rosenzweig <fullcircle AT jps.net>]

>Sue, you might want to consider trellising.  I trellis all vine crops
>now, except watermelons.  You may want to trial a few plants to see
>how you like it.  I found the yields to be slightly lower than when
>grown on the ground, but time spent cleaning is nil, the veggies are
>more uniform & attractive, and saving my back has been an extra
>benefit!!

We trellis cucs, Zucchetta rampicante, Sweet dumpling, Red kuri, Carnival,
Sweet Mama, and mini pumpkins with increased yields.

In our semi-permanent bed system, we transplant cucurbit sp.  Bush squash
and others, planted intensively fill the bed before weeds can get a good
start and then shade out the ones that do. Drip irrigation keeps the
furrow/walkways dry in summer so after about June 15th, our weed problems
are minimal.  With direct-seeded crops, we sprinkle the bed then flame it
off with a Red Dragon after 4-5 days.  The soil is then only disturbed by
the planter.  We weed if and when we thin after that.

Marcie A. Rosenzweig
Full Circle Organic Farm
Auburn, CA