Why mounds?

Discussion in 'Fruit and Veg Gardening' started by ouqtinvt, Jul 27, 2011.

  1. ouqtinvt

    ouqtinvt New Seed

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    OK so as I was watering my squash, watching the water roll off the edge of the mound, I was wondering just why do we plant squash, cucumbers, melons on these hills? Anyone have any info? There has got to be a good story out there......
     
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  3. carolyn

    carolyn Strong Ash

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    We don't plant anything in mounds. The water just rolls right off. I haven't noticed that the mounds help any. I actually plant my melons and squash in a depression with a little soil "collar" around them to hold the water there so it drains down towards the roots. Maybe it is more recommended for heavy or clay soil types and has become traditional to do this way for everybody.
     
  4. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    One reason is that mounds keep the plant up high and aid in drainage. Also, since cukes, squash, melons are vining, a mound gives them more space to vine (think of the mound as a very short trellis).
    We also plant these in a shallow trench to conserve water. We can let them sprawl, or use a trellis, but drainage here in Texas isn't a problem--getting something "drainable" to fall out of the sky is!
     
  5. daisybeans

    daisybeans Hardy Maple

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    Funny, some of the things we do sometimes without thinking about why.... Good question and good answers
     



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  6. KK Ng

    KK Ng Hardy Maple

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    I did it for the drainage because when it pours here it really pours!
     
  7. Danjensen

    Danjensen In Flower

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    you should really do both a mound with a little dirt mound around the plant to direct the water to the roots.

    As well as drainage the mound will stay warmer which most of these plants need.

    personally i have raised beds so dont mound the soil.
     
  8. Pricklypear

    Pricklypear Seedling

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    I plant my melons and winter squash in round basins. I dig a pit about a foot deep and pile up the dirt around it to keep the water in the basin. I plant four seeds and will thin to two later. I put a little shade cage over each basin to protect the young plants from the blistering desert sun and birds and the cat.

    As soon as I thin the plants, I add mulch to the basins. By this time, I can remove the cages safely. As soon as I see a melon that's golf ball size, I put a little mulch and a board under the melon to keep it out of the soil.

    My melons and squash are on drip. Each basin has it's own emitter that can be adjusted to water up to a 12" circle.
     
  9. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Hello,

    I do not plant things in mounds either, although I earthen-up some crops like spuds, leeks and corn, and in the end it looks like they are on a mound, or elevated row.
    The reasons that I do it are different, depending upon the plant...but melons, squash and cucumbers I never plant in a mound. I am guessing that drainage and heat might be the most common reasons for the mounding practice.
     
  10. EJ

    EJ Allotmenteer Extraordinaire

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    I read that if you garden on heavy clay, prone to waterlogging, you should plant squashes on mounds to ensure the main stem of the plant doesn't rot as they are quite delicate - I have lost count how many I have snapped when planting them out - clumsy!. I don't plant on a mound, even though I garden on London clay because my allotment is always so dry that I need to keep water close to the plant and can't afford to let it run away.
     

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