Every year I plant several squash/zucchini varieties, hoping to find one that really stands out. I finally found it: Long White of Polermo. I started two of these in mid-April in my basement and set them out around Mother's Day (I'm in zone 6b/7a), and they're still going strong. I've been getting at least one zucchini a day since they started producing. In years past, my plants have succumbed to vine bores and squash bugs before August and my second plantings always fell victim to pickle worms. Not this year, and it's because of all the flowers I've been planting around the garden, which attracts a huge number of pollinators and other beneficials. I haven't used any pesticides at all for the past two years. Last year I had a few problems (mostly mexican bean beetles), but this year I had no pest problems at all. I highly recommend following Lisa Mason-Ziegler's program as outlined in her book, Vegetables Love Flowers.

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