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Allow Vine Crops to Spread on Trellises and Mounds

Jeremy Keith

Some crops take a little more room to grow than others. Vine crops, like cucumbers, squashes, and melons, love to spread as they grow. 

On this Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe talks with Ajay Nair, associate professor of horticulture at Iowa State University, about growing vine crops. Nair recommends mounds for vine crops that spread on the ground, and he says it helps with aeration.

"For cucumbers, you should try to do the trellising," Nair says. He also has recommendations for selecting pickling cultivars.

"In the case of pickling cucumbers, the smaller ones are the ones that fetch a higher price."

Later in the hour, Iowa State University Extension Horticulture Specialist Richard Jauron and Donald Lewis, Iowa State University professor and Extension entomologist, also join the conversation and answer questions.

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HorticultureHort DayHort Day