Beginner Gardening: 2015 Grow-Along Challenge: Squash Wars - Roll Call!, 3 by MaypopLaurel

MaypopLaurel wrote:
You can see I got started a bit later than some of you. The first pic is from May 4th. We had 1/4" of rain the next day but have had no rain since even though reports say rain is likely three or four times a week. Very discouraging. I'm able to hand water while here but have to be very careful since we are spring fed with a relatively small storage cistern. The vegetable garden is on the first step of our mountainside. The second step has fruit trees some cane fruit and the third is blueberries growing on the edge of the woods.

The second and third photos are the Zucchetta tromboncino. There are six plants that will be thinned down to three. Because of the narrow steps on our south facing mountainside I covet ground space and grow vertically as much as possible. I've installed two 8'x5' cattle panels horizontally and will add vertical posts with EMT pipe if I need to go higher. If successful, the three plants will have 16' to sprawl. The fourth photo shows a few Black Beauty zucchini. There are three plants at the entry to the rear of the garden and two more flanking posts on either side of the walkway. We use old posts in key spots so I won't run over plants when watering. The last photo has been dubbed "the box of spaghetti" I declared SO 1A and drafted him to construct a box from some old decking we've been replacing. The fence line is right up on the hillside with lots of granite rock. I was able to cultivate about 8" down but the box will give me a better bed and protect the squash from errant dogs. It's 24"x33". I'm hoping to grow two in that space. The spaghetti squash started peeping through the mulch yesterday. Long Pie pumpkins are up and have had a first thinning. I'll post a photo soon. I've grown these on the ground for years but am going to try to grow them vertically this year too. Waltham butternuts were seeded three days ago and are still hiding. That's all for now.