SQUASH IT
My watermelon hack helps me grow squash easily – all you need is the rind, a single seed gave me an 8-foot bush
There's a reason why it works
GREEN thumbs can rejoice as one horticulturist shared their hack for growing squash.
The gardening fan said they use watermelon rind, resulting in an eight-foot bush.
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Redditor Cannibalapples posed the question in a post to the social media platform.
"Tell me your garden hacks," they asked.
"I would love to hear everyone's garden hacks — their great ways of getting around troubles using household stuff.
"[Including] your rigged up trellis, what you use to keep the bugs and critters out using common household stuff.
"Ingenious garden tricks should be shared."
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One passionate gardener chimed in with their go-to method for growing squash.
"I plant squash in buried watermelon rinds. One seed turns into a bush about eight-foot by five-foot and produces two squash a day."
Cannibal apple asked for further clarification on the planting process.
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"I cut the watermelon in half and spoon out the inside to eat," the Redditor said.
"Then I poke a hole in the bottom and burry it.
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"I make the squash mound on top of it and have monsters sprouting in no time."
The gardener added why they think the watermelon hack works so well.
"I burry [the rind] just to cover the top," they said.
"I feel like this works well because of the extra moisture the rind has.
"My 'mound' is about four inches wide by two inches tall.
"I mound all of the seeds I directly sow in the ground, so it is easier to remember where things are planted.
"Most seed packets suggest a mound, but I would not change what you are doing if it is working.
"Or maybe you could try it both ways to see which gives you the better plant."
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According to Colorado State University, the hack may be due to the weather the plants need.
Both squash and melons are "warm weather plants," making them ideal to grow together.
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space, and repel pests
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- Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers.
- Dollar Tree sells four packs of seeds for $1.25.
- Try a vertical planter like Amazon's Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter, $35 to make more use of a small space.
- Use netting like the Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, from Amazon to keep away bugs that eat your vegetables.
- Try sacrificial planting to reduce the use of pesticides and keep pests away from your garden. Deliberately growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives.
- For pesky weeds in your garden, the Grampa's Weeder - The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles, $45, from Amazon is a helpful tool you can use without having to bend over.