organic winter squash production on california’s … · 2020-03-26 · organic winter squash...
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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
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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.
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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
OrganicWinterSquashProductiononCalifornia’sCentralCoast|5
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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
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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
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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.
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14.1
7B
utte
rnut
23.2
7R
ed K
uri
37.2
3P
rice
($/#
)0.
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).