Beginner Gardening: HELP! My squash are taking over...., 1 by SoFlaCommercial

SoFlaCommercial wrote:
well, like i've said in other posts, I really didn't research what was a winter versus summer vegetable.

I originally planted four buttercup squash, but one of them grew all over, and after spending 90 minutes in the heat and the sun trying to extricate all those vines from each other, I ended up having to pull the plant that had the most growth on it.

I then spent the rest of the day digging holes for posts.

I'll post a picture later, but basically what I did was dug two holes at either end of the 'row' where I have my squash. I then placed 12" long x 2 " wide posts and back filled, angling them about 20 degrees outside of plumb so as to handle any weight any potential squash vines can bear.

I then took 8' long x 2" furrier strips, drilling holes every foot (in hindsight, should have been every six inches or so), placing (don"t know what they"re called - eyelet hooks?) hooks in them for the wire. (size #10)

I then took (what I was told was) mason wire, doubled it over, and strung wire in back-to-forth motion like a ladder. I doubled it for added strength, as the single wire didn't look adequate. I think if I criss-cross it as well, it may be stronger; dunno.

Here's a picture of my daughter trying to run the string up the lattice. The thing sags, though.....


comments advise welcome, as I only did one trellis yesterday. I have two more to do today. also - the picture's on the side; couldn't rotate it....sorry.

thanks.