cucumbers and melons in the cold frame

overflowing cuke and melon vines
cuke or melon flowers 2 melon flower 2
cuke and melon leaves different leaves
diva cuke baby melon

My cold frame is overflowing with summer vines. Four cucumber varieties, four melons, one pretty little acorn squash plant. I’m admiring the mix of similar leaves that have all gotten mixed up together.

I didn’t do good planning where to plant. No space to walk between trellises and difficult to search the centers of green rows for hidden green cucumbers.

I’ve been comparing leaves of the three curcurbits. All the same size and color. But cucumbers are pointed and star-like, melons are rounded and wide, and acorn squash has deep round lobes.

The flowers are also similar but different. Cucumbers a little bigger and bright yellow. Melon flowers paler, more delicate, and tending to look ragged from bee traffic. I’m looking forward to seeing acorn squash flowers – none yet.

13 Comments. Leave new

  • Beautiful!! How do you keep them so pest-free?

    Reply
  • Nicely done. Did you build or buy your cold frame?

    Mark_thetrigeek via twitter

    btw, I'm 45 mins south in Fall River.

    Reply
  • Wow, they are such prolific growers and yours look so healthy. Mine started out beautifully, but last week they all started showing small yellowish spots (that I haven't been able to diagnose)and the older leaves are now totally brown, dry, and crumbled with the newer leaves still fresh and healthy looking.

    Reply
  • I saw that Daphne has yellow spots too. I don't think she figured them out.

    Just luck keeping my plants pest free.

    The cold frame is hand made. Click on the link below the post and you can red some of the posts when my husband made it.

    Reply
  • Such lush plants and nice photography too!

    Reply
  • Oh boy, what lovely lush plants you've got! I so envy you!:-)
    I don't nearly get as much out of my garden, and I'm using the balcony, too…*sigh*
    Can we swap gardens, please? 😉

    Reply
  • All the curcurbits just have a mind of their own where they want to scramble. Wherever you decide they should go… they go somewhere else!

    Reply
  • Mine look just as tangled — between the squash and the tomatoes I didn't stake, it is hard to walk in the garden these days!

    Reply
  • Marian (London UK)
    August 5, 2010 10:29 PM

    Our Cucumbers, Courgettes are going wild. They are being watered, and the heat and sun has been non-stop. Hey they are tastey and no fat!

    Your Squash casserole is brill Kathy.
    I think they say these days Good on ya girl!
    Marian (London UK)

    Reply
  • Those plants are looking great.

    Reply
  • I just love reading vegetable garden comments! Thanks.

    Reply
  • Love the blog! but new to gardening. what exactly is a cold frame?
    thanks!

    Reply
  • Charles, A cold frame is a great way to extend your gardening season. I looked up Wikipedia and here's an explanation: cold frame. It's my first year using one and I am hoping to grow lettuce until January. We'll see.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.
You need to agree with the terms to proceed

Previous Post
popcorn ears
Next Post
wildflowers
Menu