High Hill 2005 Zuchnut Spacing Study
INTRODUCTION
A 2005 study was conducted to study the impact of spacing Zuchnut butternut squash plants on
overall yield per running foot of row, and average size of squash at High Hill Orchard in Meriden CT.
DISCUSSION
The planting consisted of two very long raised rows covered with biodegradable black mulch. The
standard spacing between plants for general production was measured as 8 plants per 10 feet, or
1.25 feet per plant. The spacing between plants in the evaluation study area in the same rows was
4 feet per plant. The distance between the rows was not recorded. Row separation is estimated at
4-6 feet, but did not vary so is not a variable in this study. Immature squash were not common and
were discarded.
Four Zuchnut plants HH15, HH16, HH18, and HH28 were being grown as a control group in the
evaluation study area. These plants took up a total of 16 feet of row, and produced a total of 24
mature squash.
Twelve Zuchnut plants HD1 to HD12 were selected at random within the standard production area.
These plants took up a total of 15 feet of row, and produced a total of 19 mature squash.
| Row | Total OZ | Total LB | Spacing | Planting |
| West | 45 | 2.8 | 4 | HH |
| West | 69 | 4.3 | 4 | HH |
| West | 103 | 6.4 | 4 | HH |
| West | 91 | 5.7 | 4 | HH |
| West | 85 | 5.3 | 4 | HH |
| West | 148 | 9.3 | 4 | HH |
| East | 68 | 4.3 | 4 | HH |
| East | 78 | 4.9 | 4 | HH |
| East | 98 | 6.1 | 4 | HH |
| East | 76 | 4.8 | 4 | HH |
| East | 99 | 6.2 | 4 | HH |
| East | 53 | 3.3 | 4 | HH |
| West | 57 | 3.6 | 4 | HH |
| West | 129 | 8.1 | 4 | HH |
| West | 113 | 7.1 | 4 | HH |
| West | 117 | 7.3 | 4 | HH |
| East | 70 | 4.4 | 4 | HH |
| East | 69 | 4.3 | 4 | HH |
| East | 62 | 3.9 | 4 | HH |
| East | 80 | 5.0 | 4 | HH |
| East | 81 | 5.1 | 4 | HH |
| East | 81 | 5.1 | 4 | HH |
| East | 80 | 5.0 | 4 | HH |
| East | 71 | 4.4 | 4 | HH |
| West | 92 | 5.8 | 1.25 | HD |
| West | 90 | 5.6 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 106 | 6.6 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 90 | 5.6 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 63 | 3.9 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 52 | 3.3 | 1.25 | HD |
| West | 88 | 5.5 | 1.25 | HD |
| West | 100 | 6.3 | 1.25 | HD |
| West | 83 | 5.2 | 1.25 | HD |
| West | 52 | 3.3 | 1.25 | HD |
| West | 59 | 3.7 | 1.25 | HD |
| West | 121 | 7.6 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 72 | 4.5 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 85 | 5.3 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 75 | 4.7 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 74 | 4.6 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 77 | 4.8 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 57 | 3.6 | 1.25 | HD |
| East | 72 | 4.5 | 1.25 | HD |
Looking at the total produced by each plant, we see that 15” spaced plants produced 1-2
squash
per plant, 48” spaced plants produced 3-7 squash per plant.
Plant |
Total Squash |
Total LB |
HH15 Total |
4 |
33.8 |
HH16 Total |
6 |
29.5 |
HH18 Total |
3 |
26.0 |
HH28 Total |
7 |
37.1 |
HD1 Total |
1 |
5.8 |
HD2 Total |
1 |
5.6 |
HD3 Total |
2 |
12.3 |
HD4 Total |
2 |
7.2 |
HD5 Total |
1 |
5.5 |
HD6 Total |
2 |
11.4 |
HD7 Total |
2 |
6.9 |
HD8 Total |
1 |
7.6 |
HD9 Total |
2 |
9.8 |
HD10 Total |
1 |
4.7 |
HD11 Total |
2 |
9.4 |
HD12 Total |
2 |
8.1 |
Grand Total |
39 |
220.7 |
The primary issue is to discover what is the total production weight of squash per running foot of row.
The HH 48” spacing plants produced 126.4 pounds of mature squash for 16 feet of row. Multiplying
by 100/16 gives an estimated production of 790 pounds per 100 row feet.
The HD 15” spacing plants produced 94.3 pounds of squash for 15 feet of row. Multiplying by 100/15
gives an estimated production of 628.3 pounds per 100 row feet.
Planting |
Total LB |
LB/100 FT |
Percent |
HH Total |
126.4 |
790.2 |
125.8 |
HD Total |
94.3 |
628.3 |
100.0 |
Grand Total |
220.7 |
|
|
The results are quite clear that 48” spacing produces about 25% more pounds of marketable Zuchnut
squash per running foot of row than 15” spacing. The secondary issue is whether or not the wider
spacing produces an unintended consequence of excessively large squash and not more marketable
squash of the same size.
Below is a evaluation of the overall weights of individual squash. The average weight of the HD 15”
spacing squash was 4.97 pounds each while the average weight of the HH 48” spacing squash was
5.30 pounds. This demonstrates that when given more spacing, Zuchnut produces not bigger but more
squash of about the same size.
Descriptive Statistics: Total LB
Total
Variable Planting Count Mean StDev Minimum Q1 Median Q3 Maximum
Total LB HD 19 4.968 1.159 3.300 3.900 4.800 5.600 7.600
HH 24 5.279 1.536 2.800 4.300 5.000 6.175 9.300
These results are valid only for butternut squash, but may extend to other winter squash. The
recommendation is to increase butternut squash spacing and do a new study this year using 48”
and one other new spacing distance.