Cucumber
Depth to Plant Seeds: 1/2"-1"
Seed Spacing: 18"
Row Spacing: n/a
Watering: Water regularly until flowers appear and then water heavily until harvest is complete.
Special Considerations: Install trellis before planting. A folding trellis can be used if properly secured to the ground.
Melon
Depth to Plant Seeds: 1/2"
Seed Spacing: 16"
Row Spacing: n/a
Watering: Moderate watering, but water little to none while fruit is ripening (or melons won't have good flavor). If starting indoors, water minimally for a week prior to transplanting.
Special Considerations: Can be trellised. Melons love heat, so if you don't live in an area with very hot summers, heat up the planting bed with IRT (infrared transmitting) plastic "mulch" (sheeting) a couple of weeks before planting, and then cut an "x" into the plastic where you'll be planting the melons. Leave the plastic in place because it will raise the temperature by several degrees and also help the soil retain moisture (less watering will be necessary, and you may not have to water at all while fruit is growing - just check under the plastic from time to time to make sure the soil is moist). Row covers can also be used to provide more heat to the plants, but be sure to remove them if the outside temperature gets hot or the plants may die. Remove row covers when plants flower in order to allow pollination. If you don't live in a hot climate, you may also want to consider starting melons indoors and then transplanting them to outside when they're ready.
Squash, Summer
Depth to Plant Seeds: 1/2"-1"
Seed Spacing: 12"-18"
Row Spacing: n/a
Watering: Even, heavy watering.
Special Considerations: Grow in little mounds spaced about 18" apart. Harvest as fruits reach the appropriate size or they will grow extra large and often become inedible as summer squash (though some varieties can then be used like winter squash).
Squash, Winter
Depth to Plant Seeds: 1/2"-1"
Seed Spacing: 12"-18"
Row Spacing: n/a
Watering: Even, heavy watering.
Special Considerations: Plant in little mounds like summer squash, but allow several feet between mounds because winter squash will usually vine and take up a lot of space. Winter squash can be grown up a trellis to save space, but be sure to give the fruits extra support before they become too heavy. Laying down IRT (infrared transmitting) plastic "mulch" (sheeting) a week or more before planting will help to warm the soil (this isn't necessary in warmer climates, and I haven't done it as of yet). It can remain in place after planting, but check the soil moisture regularly to prevent over-watering.
Watermelon
Depth to Plant Seeds: 1/2"
Seed Spacing: 18"
Row Spacing: n/a
Watering: Moderate watering, but water little to none while fruit is ripening (or watermelons won't have good flavor). If starting indoors, water minimally for a week prior to transplanting.
Special Considerations: Watermelons, like any other melon, love heat, so if you don't live in an area with very hot summers, heat up the planting bed with IRT (infrared transmitting) plastic "mulch" (sheeting) a couple of weeks before planting, and then cut an "x" into the plastic where you'll be planting the watermelons. Leave the plastic in place because it will raise the temperature by several degrees and also help the soil retain moisture (less watering will be necessary, and you may not have to water at all while fruit is growing - just check under the plastic from time to time to make sure the soil is moist). Row covers can also be used to provide more heat to the plants, but be sure to remove them if the outside temperature gets hot or the plants may die. Remove row covers when plants flower in order to allow pollination. If you don't live in a hot climate, you may also want to consider starting watermelons indoors and then transplanting them to outside when they're ready.
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