The summer squashes I've grown really aren't climbers.... they just sort of sit there and make a bush with water-lily leaves. I've got terraced raised beds which allowed me last year to peek into the zucchini forest almost from eye level, and boy was it cool! Like a whole different world, made me feel 10 years old.

At the risk of sounding like a dummy, what's a cucumber hut? Sounds like something I might want to try.

There a several varieties of winter squash that are true viners which you could use.

Some are good for eating while immature (like summer squash) but not all.

Try Zucchini Rampicante for vigorous vines, excellent yields, great tasting squash both immature as well as mature.

hutch- my seed pack just says squash zucchini I have no idea what kind it is, it was a cheap dollar general store pack. Maybe I should just stick w/ the cucumber for the hut. Still, any suggestions for what to use for building materials?

Mickee- oh if you have kids I think its a great idea, here's a link to info about a cucumber hut or fort.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_structures_other/article/0,1785,HGTV_3639_3511529,00.html

and like I said, if you have kids and that interests you, read this other thread I started about sunflower houses, it has more links on it. (link is below)

Here is a link that might be useful: WS a Playhouse?

kek19,

I would say that the seed you have will make a handsome, somewhat sprawling, bush but not a vining plant like what you are looking for.

I would build the hut out of bamboo stakes made into a teepee shape or put up a large post or pole in the middle and then run strings down from it to an outside perimeter where the seeds are planted.

You can also plant sunflowers or sweet corn in a perimeter and have a fort-like result.

There is a book called "Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots" which has some great hideout ideas and others including a "pizza garden" which was fun to do.

thanks hutch, I am doing the sunflower house, and a bean tunnel to a hut, that was the idea at least. Maybe it would be best to do the pole bean tee-pee and use the cucumbers for the tunnel. Would cucumbers grow up a string? It just seems too thin. I've never grown cucumbers, so I dont know much about them. I was thinking I'd have to do bamboo stakes w/ like chicken wire around it. That's the only thing I could think of, (other than the ones you can buy in the catalog) I'm trying to keep it all as least expensive as possible. If anyone thinks of anything else, please let me know

I grows cukes & tomatoes up a string. It's pretty cool cuz they grow real straight. It takes all season to get up about 6ft. Squash I only go up about 3ft. but maybe I'll try higher this year.

Keep in mind that bees will be in the veggie blossoms all day. They never bother me cuz they are busy working but then I am not allergic (yet). Bees may frighten the children.

Gumby_CT

Ok, do you guys think it would work to build a tee-pee w/ the bamboo stakes and criss cross twine between them for support? For the cucumbers.

yes

Personally, I wouldn't recommend zucchini for the kids' tunnel or hut; if you have picked them with bare arms, you know how spiny they are. They can really scratch. And unless you grow one of the heirloom vining varieties, they are poor climbers.

Some cucumber varieties can be trained to climb... some can't. The climbing varieties would probably cover a low tunnel, with the fringe benefit of very straight cukes hanging down from the frame. Older slicing varieties like "Straight 8", and long Asian types, would be your best bets.

The "Rampicante" squash (a.k.a. "Zucchetta Rampicante" or "Tromboncino") mentioned by Hutch is a strong climber, and has the added benefit of being less attractive to squash vine borers than most squash. The long, attractive immature fruits can be used just like zucchini, although the flavor is a little different.

You also might want to consider "Cucuzzi", which is an Italian edible gourd. It is a rampant climber that will _densely_ cover almost any trellis or frame, and has downy leaves that won't scratch tender skin. The long immature fruits are eaten much like zucchini in prepared dishes, but are too strong-flavored (for most tastes) to be eaten alone as a vegetable. If left to mature, they will become enormous 3-4' club-like gourds. Note that this vine climbs 10 feet+, and would easily cover almost any hut/tunnel you might design - and thickly!

I am assuming here that you actually want to eat something from this playground, as well as amuse the kids. But if you want to grow something mainly for the curiosity factor, you could plant some Asian Bitter Melon. They are also strong climbers, and the warted frog-like fruits would fascinate children - they pop open when ripe, exposing bright-red seeds inside. The fruits are edible, so there is no danger for children... but they are (as the name suggests) very bitter. Any Asians you know would probably be happy to use a few.

For the tee pees, yardlong beans would be a very interesting alternative to regular snap beans. I highly recommend "Liana" for our area (I live across the lake from you in Wisconsin). But if you want snaps, consider a purple or yellow variety. I have seen a few companies offer a green/purple/yellow Romano bean mix, that is not only tasty, but very eye-catching. "Fortex" pole is also good, with long 11" pods... but they are so tasty raw that your kids might eat them all!

Galvanized welded-wire fencing (or plastic-coated fencing) would be a good support for the hut/tunnel, if cukes, squash, or gourds will cover it. You could tie the fencing to poles, and make a tall A-frame. Just be sure to either bury any cut edges, or cover them, to avoid the chance of laceration. Some pole beans (such as yardlongs) are reluctant to climb coated fencing, so if you want to use pole beans, a tee pee with rows of string running between the poles might be preferable.

Hope I've given you something to work with.

I was reminded today about the revolting smell of squash leaves when I handled some seedlings in the rain and the smell infused my wet sweatshirt (winter squash, but summer squash leaves smell just the same). In addition, gathering fruits from summer squashes gives me a terrible rash which only lasts several minutes, but which is really unpleasant. Cukes would be much nicer, and why not try interlacing it all with flowering vines?

kek19,

I grow my cucumbers on strings every year. No problem at all with them being too heavy.

I use recycled cotton string from my local newspaper office. They use it for the paper bundles.

Thanks hutch, and everyone else. So I guess I will ixna the zuchinni as part of the structures, keep them on the side in the little garden like I originally planned. The little garden will be fenced off, and will include zuchinni, summer squash, pumpkins, and watermelon. Granted I can grow all of that :) I've got the poles for the teepee, and a bunch of twine (needed that to map out and to create the roof on the sunflower house for the morning glories to grow) I also have the smaller poles to build the walls of the tunnel, figure something out for the roof. Lets see, what else did I need, oh yeah the seeds! Got all those. Sunflowers and Morning Glories are already sprouted. Pole Beans, Cucumbers, and the rest are waiting for the warmer weather. I think I'm all set, thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>>>zeedman The "Rampicante" squash (a.k.a. "Zucchetta Rampicante" or "Tromboncino") mentioned by Hutch is a strong climber, and has the added benefit of being less attractive to squash vine borers than most squash.

I grow it every year. Never had a problem with squash bugs. I gave up growing zucchini last year because of the squash bugs. Very strong climber, runs right down the fence, over the fence, through the fenceÂ

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We have had excellent luck with trellising our zucchini rampicante. It has gone nuts. We have about eight plants and they have completely taken over the eight foot tall structure that I created for them. You can see it here:

http://bartoy.blogspot.com/2007/05/zucchini-architecture.html

You can also see how it is doing here:

http://bartoy.blogspot.com/2007/06/i-fiori.html

I am planning on picking some soon. We have some that have grown to about two to three feet length yet remain an inch to two in diameter. So, they are not inedible monsters. The use of gravity in the growing has been fantastic as these squash love to hang in the air.

Keep posted on our blog. I think that I am going to be harvesting some soon and perhaps even pickling it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Life has taught us ...

There are vining winter squash varieties that will absolutely climb and create a tunnel or cover whatever form your trellis is. Just don't use "bush" types.

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Bush Type Plant:
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Did you build one kek19?