Floating Row Cover Experiment- Zucchini Squash

 

Overview:

• Each gardener will have two plots. One will be covered with a floating row cover and the other will not be covered.
• Feel free to add compost, manure or a start-up fertilizer to the soil prior to planting.
• Apply straw or other suitable mulch to keep plots free of weeds.
• Insect numbers will be monitored on a regular basis and yield will be recorded.
• Do not use any pesticide on the zucchini plants.
• Irrigate so plants get a minimum of 1 inch of water each week.
• Continue to record the observations even though you think the experiment may have failed.

Time Line:

Week 1 - Plant zucchini seeds.

Week 2 - Thin seedlings and mulch. - Count insects in both plots. - Remove all insects before you place the floating row cover (only in plot to be covered). - Place and secure the floating row cover.

Week 4 - Count insects in both covered and NOT covered plots and record on the data sheets provided.

Week 6 - Count insects in both covered and NOT covered plots and record on the data sheets provided.

Week X - Remove cover to hand-pollinate flowers every week for the remainder of the season. - Replace the cover immediately after pollination. - Hand-pollinate flowers in plots with and without floating row cover.

Week 7 - Start recording yields after you see first 6-inch fruit (the length of a dollar bill). - Hand-pollinate flowers in both plots, and replace cover.

Week 8 - Count insects in both covered and NOT covered plots. - Hand-pollinate flowers in both plots, and replace cover. - Record yields.

Week 9 - Hand-pollinate flowers in both plots, and replace cover. - Record yields.

Week 10 - Count insects in both covered and NOT covered plots. - Hand-pollinate flowers in both plots, and replace cover. - Record yields.

Week 11 - Hand-pollinate flowers in both plots, and replace cover. - Record yields.

Week 12 - Hand-pollinate flowers in both plots, and replace cover. - Record yields.

Week 13 - Hand-pollinated flowers in both plots, and replace cover. - Record yields.

Week 14 - Record final yields.

Planting

• Plant two 9ft rows of Black Beauty Zucchini squash (50 days to maturity) on or before May 20 separated by at least 15ft.
• Plant 3 groups of 3 seeds 3 feet apart in each plot (See figure below).
• After emergence, thin each group to one plant (Week 2). You will then have 3 plants 3 feet apart in each plot (See figure below).



Applying the Row Cover Treatment

• Randomly choose treatment for each plot. Toss a coin to determine which plot will be covered and which will not be covered.
• Cover one squash plot with 5ft wide floating row cover (Week 2). Use 3 six of foot long pieces of #9 wire to construct hoops to support the 9-foot long cover.
• Seal the floating row cover to the ground with heavy boards and soil on one side.
• Use heavy boards to seal remaining sides. This will make it easier to remove covers during hand pollination, insect inspection and while harvesting.
• Keep the sealed cover over the plants in the row until the end of the week 14.

 

Hand-pollination

• Each female flowers under the row cover need to be hand-pollinated for the fruits to form.
• The squash plants have separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
• The female flower has the ovary (looks like a small zucchini) at the base of the flower.
• The male flower has only a short stalk.
• Take a swab and twirl it in the male blossoms to pick up the pollen from the anthers.
  
• Move to the female flowers and put the swab against the stigma and gently twirl it. (The stigma is located towards the center of the flower on the tip of a slender stalk. The stigma will be a little wet with nectar).
• Repeat the last two steps for each flower you need to hand-pollinate.
• The female flowers can be pollinated with pollen from male blossoms from the same or different plant.
• It should take only a couple of seconds to pollinate each flower.
• Replace cover immediately after pollination.
• See pictures of male and female flowers <<http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/facts/98-087.htm>>

Information to be Collected during weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14:
• Count and record the number of cucumber beetles and squash bugs you see. Note the presence or absence of vine borer holes.
• Make insect counts at about the same time of day.
  o First, quickly count the number of cucumber beetles (they often hide in flowers).
  o Second, count the number of squash bugs.
  o Third, look for vine borer holes. You should not spend more than 3 minutes per plant.
• Record insect counts every two weeks for the both plots (follow the schedule listed above).
• Record the date the first flower appears in both plots.
• Record yield per plant. Harvest and count all the fruits that are 6 inches (the length of a dollar bill) or greater at least twice a week. Record the total you harvested all week (7-day interval) long. Harvest every week up to week 14 after planting.
  

Replace cover immediately after inspecting plants and recording yields. Plots should be uncovered for no more than 15 minutes.

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