ORGANIC WINTER SQUASH PRODUCTION ON CALIFORNIA’S … · 2020-03-26 · ORGANIC WINTER SQUASH PRODUCTION ON CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL COAST: A Guide for Beginning Specialty Crop Growers

ORGANIC WINTER SQUASH PRODUCTION ON CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL COAST: A Guide for Beginning Specialty Crop Growers

winter squash

Introduction

Winter squash production can be done with low capital

investment and simple infrastructure. Squash has

low seed cost, modest fertility needs, and relatively

little labor requirements during the growing season. The broad

leaf canopy minimizes weed pressure, and many varieties are

fairly resistant to pests and diseases. “Winter” or “hard” squash

is grown in the warm season and can be stored for some months

(through the winter). Unlike “summer” squash (zucchini and

other “soft” squashes) that must be harvested daily and stored

in a cooler, winter squash has a flexible window of harvest and

sale (with proper dry storage). These characteristics make winter

squash a viable crop for beginning specialty crop growers.

Growing a mix of varieties provides an assortment of colors,

textures, and flavors to diversify marketing opportunities or add

variety to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

Depending on markets, varieties, and yields, winter squash can

provide excellent cash returns. Adequate dry storage allows sales

to be spread over a period of two to four months for best price.

This guide addresses the steps involved in growing winter squash

organically on the Central Coast of California, with a focus on

planting to moisture to minimize weed pressure.

Features of winter squash production•Wintersquashgrowswellincoolercoastalareasaswellasthewarmerinlandvalleylocations(ithasfewclimaticlimitationsintheCentralCoastregion)

•Requireslittlelaborthroughoutthegrowingseason

•Storeswellwithminimalinfrastructure(drystorageonly;nocoolerneeded),whichisusefulforextendingdirectsales/CSAseason

•Resistsortoleratespestsanddiseases•Growswellinmostsoiltypesandrequiresonlymoderatesoilfertilitylevels

•Producesreasonableyieldswithrelativelylittleirrigation;canbedryfarmedintherightclimateandsoiltype(seeDry-FarmedTomatoGrowerGuide)

•Providesforexcellentcroprotationtoimprovesoilqualityanddecreaseweedpressureforfuturecrops

2 | Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems

winter squash

PRODUCTION PRACTICES — SUMMARY Soil type and pH

•Doeswellonarangeofsoiltypesbutgrowsbestonwell-drainedsandyloamsoilwithpH5.8–6.5.

Site selection

•Avoidplantingwhereinfestationsofcucumberbeetlehavebeenheavyorcommon.

•Plantupwindandseparatedfromoldersequentialblocks,andothercropshighlysusceptibletocucumberbeetles,suchaspotatoes,cucurbits,beansandcorn.

Fertility requirements

•Fall/wintercovercrop(bellbeans,triticale,vetch).•Compost,asneeded(5–7tons/acre).•Post-plantfertilitymaybeneededonsandysoilswithminimalresidualfertilityandlowCEC(cationexchangecapacity).

Soil temperature

•Optimumsoiltemperatureis60ºForhigheratplantingdepth.

Amount of seed needed

•2–3lbs/acre.

Plants per acre

•3,000–4,000(viningtypes).•6,000–8,000(bushtypes).

Planting date

•MidMaythroughearlyJuly,dependingonvariety.

Planting technique

•Sowdirectlyintomoisture.•Plantinbedsorontheflat.•Canbetransplanted(intensivegardensystem)butarerarelytransplantedonafieldscalesystem.

Plant and row spacing

•Bushtypes:36–60”betweenrows;plantsshouldbe24”apart.

•Viningtypes:60–80”betweenrows;plantsshouldbe36–48”apart.

•Plantcloserandthintothedesiredspacingintherowtoensureauniformstandofhealthyplants.

Planting depth

•Bushtypes(typicallysmallerseedsize):upto1”deep dependingonsoiltypeanddepthtomoisture

•Viningtypes(typicallylargerseedsize):upto2”deep dependingonsoiltypeanddepthtomoisture

Irrigation

•Maybeplantedtomoistureanddryfarmed.• Ifplantedtomoistureandirrigated,laydriplinesfollowingthefirstcultivationandholdoffaslongaspossiblebeforethefirstirrigation.

•Notethatsomegrowersuseoverheadirrigationearlyintheproductioncycletominimizepowderymildew.

Days to maturity•85–110daysdependingonvarietyandweatherconditions.

Harvest/Post-harvest handling

•Leavesquashonvinesuntilplantsbegintosenesce(dieaftermaturing).

•Cutsquashwithhand-heldclippers,leavingashortstalkoncefoliagediesbackandthetendrilbeginstodry(oppositethesquashattachmentstemonthemainvine).

•Windrowinfieldtofacilitatepickup.•Storeforshortperiodsoftimeincardboardbins.

Crop rotation

•Managedwell,awintersquashcropwillsuppressweedsandscavengefertility,makingitagoodcroptofollowmoreintensivemixedvegetablesthatrequirehigherfertilityinputs.Fewweedsgroworsetseedamongasquashcropthatisplantedtomoistureanddripirrigatedoncefullcropcanopyisestablished.Thisreducesweedseedinthatfield,tothebenefitofsubsequentcrops.

•Preparefieldswithrelativeeaseandminimaltillageforsubsequentcropsorcovercrops;wintersquashresiduebreaksdownwell.

•WhereVerticilliumwilt(Verticillium dahliae)ispresent,uselongrotations(2–3yearsormore)outofsusceptiblecropssuchascucurbits,solanums,andstrawberriestonon-susceptiblecrops,suchasgrassesandlegumes.

OrganicWinterSquashProductiononCalifornia’sCentralCoast|3

winter squash

PRODUCTION SEQUENCE — OVERVIEW

** On garden scale, plant transplants

(crop day -25*) In spring, mow cover crop to facilitate breakdown. (crop day -25) Incorporate cover crop residue.

(crop day -11) Form beds with rolling cultivator or listing shovels.

(crop day -10) Pre-irrigate beds with overhead irrigation (1–1.5”). Wait for dry down and weed emergence.

(crop day -1) Work bed surface lightly with cultivator to terminate weeds, re-form beds, and create “dust mulch” to trap subsoil moisture.

(crop day 0) Direct seed squash seeds with a JD 71 planter (or equivalent).**

(crop day 20) Cultivate for additional weed control using standard 3-bar cultivator with sweeps, knives, and disc hillers.

(crop day 21) Lay drip lines.

Apply drip irrigation once canopy forms and continue weekly.

Hand weed large weeds as needed.

(crop days 120, 140) Clip squash from vines, let cure in field.

(crop days 150, 160) Harvest.

Following harvest, prepare ground for subsequent planting or cover crops.

Drill cover crop seed prior to fall/winter rains.

*Numbers in parentheses refer to crop day, with crop day 0 = planting day, based on a typical season at the CASFS/UC Santa Cruz Farm.

See Appendix (page 8) for more on crop days and related activities.


winter squash

Production Practices — Additional DetailsPre-plant fertility

Alegume/cerealmixcovercropincorporatedpriortobedpreparationshouldprovideadequatefertilityforwintersquashonmostsoiltypes.Ifadditionalfertilityisrequired,applyhighqualitycompost(5–7tons/acre)attimeofcovercropincorporation.Supplementalpost-plantfertilityisseldomneeded,althoughwintersquashgrownonverylowCEC(cationexchangecapacity)sandwithminimalresidualfertilitymayrequireadditionalnutrients,whichcanbeappliedviadripinjection.

Bed preparation and planting

Althoughwintersquashcanbeplanted“ontheflat”(i.e.,withoutformingbeds),abeddedsystemimprovesmoistureretentionandweedmanagement.

Performstandardtillagepracticestoincorporatecroporcovercropresidue(Figure1),breakcompaction,andadequatelyloosensoil.Then,formtheplantingbedsusingbeddingshovelsorarollingcultivator.

Ifthereisnorainfallfollowingbedformationinthespring,pre-irrigate(1–1.5”)withoverheadirrigationtowettherootzoneandgerminateweedspriortoplanting.Thispre-irrigationfurtherimprovessoilconditionsandtilthbybreakingdownsoilclodsorclumpsofcovercropresidue,leavingthesoilloose,moist,andfriable.

Followingthepre-irrigation(orspringrainfallof1–2”),eliminatenewlygerminatedweedswitharollingcultivatororothersuitablecultivationtechnique.Iftimingisgoodandthemoistureisuniform,sucharuncanworkwonders.Thisinitialcultivationbreakssurfacecrustingandprovidesa“soilmulch”toslowevaporativelossofdeepersoilmoisture.

Oncecroporcovercropresidueisadequatelydecomposed(residuesbrown,leavesnolongerrecognizable)andsoiltemperaturesareabove60ºF,useasuitableplanter(seebelow)topushasidethedriersoilonthebedtopsandplantthesquashseedsintothedeepermoistureinthebed.

Timing of planting

Ingeneral,wintersquashcanbeplantedfrommid-MaythroughJuneonCalifornia’sCentralCoast.Shorter-maturingvarietiescanbeplantedinearlyJuly.Plantingdatesarebasedontimingof

adequateseedbedpreparation(allowingforthoroughcovercropresiduedecomposition),soilmoisture(adequateforgermination),andoptimalsoiltemperature(>60ºF).

Plantlateenoughinspringtoallowforrapidplantgrowth;this willhelplimitcucumberbeetleandotherherbivoredamagetoseedlings.Plantingdatesmustbeearlyenoughtoallowthecrop tomatureandadequatelyfieldcurebeforefallrains,heavydew, orfrost.

Planting to moisture

Wintersquashseedcanbeplantedtomoisturebyhandwithashovelortrowel.Therearealso“seedstick”plantersthatareveryeffectiveforplantingwintersquash.PushplanterssuchasthePlanetJr.areeffectiveforgarden-scaleproduction,butrequireaspecial“deep”openingshoetogettheseedfarenoughintomoistsoil.

Onlargerfield-scaleblocks(>.25acres),useatractor-mountedplantersuchastheJohnDeere71“flexi”planterorothersimilarplate-typeplanter(Figure2).Theplanter’sdoublediscopenerscutthroughresidualcovercroporcropresidue.Adjustplantingdepthwitharotatingcamonthesideoftheplanter,whichchangestheangleofthepresswheelinrelationtothediscopeners.Formixedblocks(multiplevarieties)ofwintersquashonrelativelysmallplots,theplanterhoppercanberemovedandtheseedshanddroppedintothedroptube.Thiscircumventstheneedformultipleseedplatestomatcheachvariety.

Notethatitisbettertoplantintosoilonthedrierside.Onmanysoiltypes,ifthesoilistoowetatplanting,soilsurfacecrustingcanimpedesuccessfulcropemergence.Squashplantsthatstruggletobreakthroughcrustedsoilmayremainstunted.

Incaseswhenthesoiliseithertoowetortoodry,youcanforma“cap”ofsoilovertheseedlinetoeitherminimizecrusting(toowet)ortominimizefurtherevaporativeloss(toodry).Runsoilcappersbehindtheplantertocreatealoosecapofsoilrightovertheseedlinebehindtheplanter’spackwheel(Figure3).

Withoptimumsoilconditions(>60ºFandminimalcrusting)andplantingdepths,plantsshouldemergein7–10days.Uniformemergenceisthebestsignofoptimalplantingconditionsandpotentialforasuccessfulcrop.

Themostcriticalaspectofeffectively“plantingtomoisture”isyourabilitytojudgesoilmoistureanddecideonseeddepth.Decisionsrelatedtoseeddepthwillvarydependingonsoiltype,seedsize,andweatherandsoilconditionsatthetimeofplanting.Becauseofthechallengesassociatedwithplantingtomoisture,FIGURE 1. A spader can be used to incorporate cover crops.

Photo: Elizabeth Birnbaum

FIGURE 2. John Deere 71 “flexi” planter. Photo: Jim Leap


winter squash

lessexperiencedgrowersmayopttoirrigateuptheirnewlyplantedsquashseed.Thispracticeiseffectiveandwillensureagoodstand,butresultsinmoreweedcompetitionandmanagementcosts.PleaseseethepublicationTillage, Bed Formation, and Planting to MoistureinthisGrowerGuide seriesforadditionaldetails.

Thinning

Thinwintersquashtothedesiredspacingonceplantsarefullyemergedandwellestablishedbutstillrelativelysmall.Asneeded,weedintheplantlineatthetimeofthinning(byhandorwithahoe).

Irrigation

Dripirrigationminimizesweedpressure,althoughsomegrowersuseoverheadirrigationpriortofruitsettohelpcontrolpowderymildew.

Timingofthefirstdripirrigationdependsonthewater-holdingcapacityofthesoil,theinitialsoilpreparation,theamountofwinterrainfall,andtheamountandtimingofanypre-irrigation.Layoutdriplineswhentheplantshavebeenthinnedbutarestillsmall,andthefirstcultivationiscomplete(Figure4).Delayirrigationaslongaspossibletoencouragedeeprootingofthesquashplants.Tominimizeweedpressure,thefirstirrigationideallywouldtakeplaceoncesquashleavesgrowafullcanopytoshadeoutweedsthatmayemergeonceirrigationisinitiated.

Fromthispointon,useevapotranspiration(Et)estimatesfromyourlocalCIMISstation(cimis.water.ca.gov)oranothersourcetoinformirrigationdecisions.Irrigationrateswilllikelyrangefrom1–2”perweekforthedurationofthecrop’sdevelopment.Oncethesquashfruitsaresizedthereisnoneedforfurtherirrigationandthewatercanbecut.

FIGURE 3. Soil cappers run behind the pack wheel create a loose “cap” of soil over the seed line. Photo: Jim Leap

Clockwise from top left: Red Kuri, Winter Luxury (pumpkin), Sweet Reba, Zeppelin, Sunshine. Photo: Elizabeth Birnbaum

VARIETAL OVERVIEW: Popular winter squash varieties

Acorn (Cucurbito pepo): Asmall,green,thin-skinnedtypewithsweet“caramelizedsugar”flavorandsmoothflesh.Shortstoragewindow(~1month).Tomaintainbestflavorandtexture,skipfieldcureandbringthemintocoolstorageoncetheyhavecoloredup.Thistypekeepsbestatslightlycoolerstoragethanotherwintersquash.VARIETIES: Sweet Reba, Table Queen, Carnival (Acorn x Sweet Dumpling)

Delicata (C. pepo): Amild,sweet,earlyseason,small(1–2pounds),thin-skinnedtypewithverysweet,smoothyellowflesh.Asitripens,colorgoesfromwhitewithgreenstripingtopaleyellowwithorangeandgreenstriping.Storagelifeislongerthanacornbutbecomedrierandstarchierinthe2nd–3rdmonthofstorage.Skinisedible.VARIETIES: Zeppelin Delicata, Sweet Dumpling

Butternut (C. moschata): Abell-shapedfruitwiththintanskin.Widelygrownforitsbrightorange,sweet,moistflesh,thistypehasalongstoragelife(~6–8months),andseemstogetbetterwithage. VARIETY: Waltham

Spaghetti (C. pepo): Alarge,oblongfruit.Thepaleyellowfleshisquitemild,onlyslightlysweet,andbreaksaparttolooklikestrandsofspaghettiwhencooked.Ithasashortstoragelife(~4–6weeks).

Hubbard (C. maxima):Alarge,hard-skinned,teardrop-shapedtypewithseveralcolorvarieties,frompalebluetobrightorangeskin,withpaleyellowtodeeporangeflesh,whichissweetandsavory.Greatasapiefillingorpuree.Canbestoredupto6monthsinproperconditions.VARIETIES: Red Kuri, Blue Ballet

Kabocha (C. maxima): Asquat-shapedJapanesetypewithrough,thickskininseveralcolors,withdarkgreenmostcommon,butalsoinshadesofgraytolightblue,orbrightorange.Thefleshisdistinctivelydryandflakywitharich,nuttyflavor.Longstoragelife(~6–8months).VARIETIES: Sunshine (bright orange-red), Cha-Cha (dark green)

Buttercup (C. maxima): Compactandgreen,closelyresemblesakabochatype,butisdistinguishedbyaroundridgeonthebottom.Thefleshisdense,firm,andsomewhatdry.VARIETIES: Burgess, Bush (compact plants, good for garden scale)

NOTEthatsomevarietiesareresistanttopowderymildew,amajordiseaseofwintersquash.Whenyousearchseedcatalogs,lookfortheabbreviations“PMT”forPowderyMildewTolerant.

FIGURE 4. Lay drip tape when plants are still small, following first cultivation. Illutration: Laura Vollset


winter squash

Wintersquashcommonlyshowsignsofwiltingonhotafternoons.Thisisnotalwaysrelatedtolackofavailablewater,sodon’tusetheafternoonwiltsymptomasaguideforirrigationfrequency.Iftheplantsappearwiltedinthemorning,thentheplantsarewaterstressedandyouneedtoirrigate.

Weed control

Whensquashseedsareplantedtomoisture,lateseasonrainsareminimal,anddripirrigationcanbedelayeduntilthereisafullcanopyofleavesbetweenplantswithintherow,theremaybenoweedingnecessaryduringtheentirecroppingcycle.Thistypeofmanagementcansignificantlyreduceproductioncosts,keepthefieldcleanofunnecessaryweedseed,andmaintainprofitability.

Ifbetween-rowweedmanagementisneededafterthinningandin-rowweeding,useathree-barcultivatormountedwithdischillers,sweeps,andknives.Becauseofthelowgrowingpointofsquashplants,itisnotadvisabletomovesoiltowardstheplantfollowingemergence.Rollingcultivatorsarethereforenotanappropriatetooltoeffectivelymanageweedsinwintersquash.

Runshallowchiselsbehindthetractortirestobreaktractortirewheelcompaction,especiallyinsituationswheresoilmoistureishighatthetimeofcultivation.Thiswillaidfalltillageandminimizeclodformation.Generally,onlyoneortwocultivationsareneededforweedmanagementinwintersquash.Thefewweedsthatescapecultivationcanbehandpulledoncethesquashisinfullbloom.Afterthat,thecanopyshouldpreventfurtherweedgerminationorgrowth(Figure6).Additionalpassesmaybeneededtocontrolbindweedorotherperennialweeds.

Harvest

Colorisprobablythebestindicatorofharvesttiming.Mostvarietieswilldevelopadeepcolorasthestemsdrydown,therindlosesitssheen,andthefruithardens.Forexample,Butternutwillgofromlightgreentodeeptan;SweetDumplingandDelicatawillgofromwhite/greentodeepyellow/orange

Oncethesquashfoliagehasfullysenesced,cutthesquashfromthevinewithhand-heldclippers,leavingashortstalkonthefruit.Takecarenottobreakoffthestemasearlypost-harvestdecaycandevelopatthepointofdetachment.Windrowtheharvestedsquashinthefieldtofacilitatepickupaftercuring(Figure7).Field

curing—leavingsquashinthesunfor1–2twoweeks(dependingonweather)—allowsfruittoshedsomemoisture,concentratessugars,hardenstheskin,andslowsrespiration,allowingforbetterlong-termstorage.Curingformorethantwoweeksmaycausesunburnandmakefruitsusceptibletoinsectdamage.Ifrainoraheatwave(temperaturesover95ºF)isforecast,squashshouldbepickedupandstored.

Cardboardbinsmaybeusedforfieldremovalandtemporarystorage.Handlesquashcarefullytoavoidcuttingorbruisingtheskin.Removedirtfromsquashandculldamagedfruitwhilefillingbins;dofinalqualityassessmentandgradingwhenpackingboxesfromthebinsformarket.Binsonpalletsmaybemovedwithathree-pointforkliftattachmentonatractor,oraforklift.Storesquashinashady,coveredarea.

Post-harvest considerations

Whenkeptdryandrodentfree,mostwintersquashvarietieswillstorewellatambienttemperaturesfor2–5months,andsomevarieties(e.g.,Butternut,Hubbard)willstoreforupto8monthsorlonger.Consultseedcataloguesandpost-harveststoragecharts(seeAdditionalResources)foroptimalstoragetemperaturesofthesquashvarietiesyougrow.

Post-harvest field care

Shortlyafterharvest,retrievealldriplinesandpreparethegroundforasubsequentcashcroporwintercovercrop.Mowthesquashvinesafterharvesttoeliminatelargeclumpsofplantmaterialpriortodiscing.Ifleftintact,largevinepiecescancause“wrapping”and“gathering”problemswithsomefollow-uptillageimplements(e.g.,chiselsandspringtoothharrows).

Becausesquashrequiresminimaltractorandfoottrafficonmoistgroundduringthecroppingcycle,thesoilshouldbeeasytoworkfollowingharvest.Typicallythewintersquashfieldwillonlyneedmowingandoneortwopasseswithadisctoadequatelypreparethegroundforplanting.Optimalsoilconditionssupportgoodcovercropstandsandrainwaterinfiltrationrates.

FIGURE 7. Windrowed winter squash curing at the UCSC Farm. Photo: Elizabeth Birnbaum

FIGURE 6. The squash canopy shades out weeds as fruit develops. Photo: Elizabeth Birnbaum


winter squash

Organic Winter Squash Production on California’s Central Coast: A Guide for Beginning Specialty Crop GrowersbyJimLeap,DarrylWong,andKirstinYogg-Comerchero,withcontributionsfromAnnBaierandDougO’Brien.EditedbyandMarthaBrownandAnnBaier.©2017CenterforAgroecology&SustainableFoodSystems(CASFS),UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz.ThisinformationwasdevelopedforbeginningspecialtycropgrowersandisbasedonpracticesusedattheUCSCFarm.CASFSisaresearch,education,andpublicserviceprogramatUCSantaCruz.Learnmoreatcasfs.ucsc.edu,[email protected],(831)459-3240.AdditionalGrowerGuidesareavailableonlineatcasfs.ucsc.edu/about/publications. ThispublicationwassupportedbytheSpecialtyCropBlockGrantProgramattheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)throughGrant14-SCBGP-CA-0006.ItscontentsaresolelytheresponsibilityoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyrepresenttheofficialviewsoftheUSDA.Mentionofcommercialproductsdoesnotconstituteanendorsement.Photos, p. 1: Elizabeth Birnbaum. Icon illustrations, p. 3, Laura Vollset.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Introduction to weed management in a small scale organic production system(video).ProducedbytheCenterfor Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems.www.youtube.com/user/casfsvideo

Knock weeds out at critical times,byMarkSchonbeck.eOrganic,2010. articles.extension.org/

1156HighStreet SantaCruz,[email protected]

pages/18882/knock-weeds-out-at- critical-times

Organic pumpkin and winter squash marketing and production,byJanetBachmannandKatherineAdam. NCATIP371,2010.attra.ncat.org/ attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=30

Powdery mildew resistant winter squash varieties are valuable addition to management program.VegetableMDOnline,CornellUniversity.vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/NewsArticles/Winter_PM_Resistant.html

UC Davis postharvest technology postharvest.ucdavis.edu/Commodity_Resources/Fact_Sheets/(seePumpkins)

DRY FARMING WINTER SQUASHManyvarietiesofwintersquasharewellsuitedtodryfarminginCalifornia’sCentralCoastregion,especiallyinareaswithmarineinfluenceandgenerallycoolerdaytimehighs.Primaryconsiderationsfordryfarmingwintersquashinclude:

•Minimum20”ofwinterrainfall.

•Deepsoilswithhighclaycontentinlowerhorizons.

•Timely(early)incorporationofcovercroptominimizelossofdeepersoilmoistureduetotranspirationbythecovercrop.

•Tillagepracticesthatpromotewaterholdingandminimizelossofmoisturethroughsurfaceevaporative.

•Useofwider-than-standardplantspacingstoallowforgreatersoil/watervolumeforeachplant.Widerspacingmeansfewerplantsandloweryields.

Pests and DiseasesBeforeyouselectvarietiesandplantyourwintersquashcrop,lookupcommonpestsanddiseasesthataffectthecropinyourarea.Learnaboutpestanddiseaselifecycles,preventivepractices,andpossibletreatmentsusingresourcessuchastheUCIPMwebsite(ucipm.edu),yourcountyCooperativeExtensionoffices,ATTRA’sBiorationals:EcologicalPestManagementDatabasewww.ncat.org/attra-pub/biorationals,neighboringfarmers,andotherknowledgeableprofessionals.

ThemainwintersquasharthropodpestsintheCentralCoastregionare:•Cucumberbeetle:Westernspottedcucumberbeetle,Diabrotica

undecimpunctata undecimpunctata;Westernstripedcucumberbeetle,Acalymma trivittatum:feedonfoliageandfruit.

•MelonAphid,Aphis gossypiiandotheraphids:transmitplantviruses,feedonleavesofolderplants,honeydewcanleadtomoldinfections.

ThemainwintersquashdiseasesintheCentralCoastregionare:•Powderymildew:Sphaerotheca fuliginea(=Podosphaera xanthii)and

Erysiphe cichoracearum(=Golovinomyces cichoracearum):affectsleavesandstemsofolder,fruit-bearingplants.

• VerticilliumWilt, Verticillium dahliae:interfereswithwatertransport,canreducefruityieldandquality,orkillplant.

PleaseseeOrganic Pest and Disease Management in Selected Crops on California’s Central CoastinthisGrower Guide series for information onthepestsanddiseaseslistedhere,andsuggestionsfortheircontrolinwintersquash.


winter squash

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75

Har

vest

Ass

umpt

ions

$13,116.00

-$2,026.15

-$922.32

$10,167.53

Per A

cre

Tota

ls Inco

me:

Labo

r + M

achi

ne C

ost:

Exp

ense

s:

Prod

uctio

n Pr

ofit:

Item

Cost

per

uni

tCo

st p

er

acre

Note

s

Drip

Tap

e$1

20/7

500'

$232

.32

1 ro

w/b

ed; 1

4520

row

'/ac;

$.0

16/ro

w'

Seed

s-

$200

.00

Seed

cos

t per

acr

e: b

utte

rnut

$70

; Del

icat

a $1

40; R

ed K

uri $

580

Boxe

s$.

98/b

ox$4

90.0

0.9

8/bx

; 35#

/box

; 500

box

/ac

Tota

l Exp

ense

s (p

er a

cre)

:$92

2.32

AP

PE

ND

IX: P

RO

DU

CT

ION

SC

HE

DU

LE

, EC

ON

OM

IC D

AT

A

Com

pleteirrigationsche

duleava

ilableon

lineatcasfs.ucsc.ed

u/ab

out/pu

blications/growergu

ides.D

atarefle

ctdire

ctfieldprod

uctio

nco

stsan

ddo

no

tinc

lude

otherpoten

tialo

verhea

d(e.g.,water,e

lectric

ity,lan

drent).

Documents

ORGANIC WINTER SQUASH PRODUCTION ON CALIFORNIA’S … · 2020-03-26 · ORGANIC WINTER SQUASH PRODUCTION ON CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL COAST: A Guide for Beginning Specialty Crop Growers