Why is it so hard to grow zucchini?

Argh!!  This was the first thing I saw as I walked up to my zucchini and squash plants yesterday.

Yep! Squash bugs!!  I hate them and have struggled to keep them at bay the past several years.  I even found some of their eggs under a few leaves.

In the past I've tried to control them with diatomaceous earth but this year I'm trying this product.

We'll see how it does.  A few weeks ago, I identified an infestation of cumber beetles that were eating my cucumber, zucchini and squash leaves.  This organic insect killer has seemed to get rid of them.  I hope that it is as effective for the squash bugs.

I thought that zucchini would be easy to grow.  You always hear of people who get to the point that they can't even give it all away.  Well in my 6 years of gardening I've struggled with it. I'd love to have an abundant crop.  In the past I've had vine borers, powdery mildew and of course squash bugs.  I've also had trouble with pollination.  The zucchini will start to grow and then wither away because it wasn't pollinated.Yes, I've read about manually pollinating the female blossoms with the male blossoms.  I've even attempted it with some success, but really.... who has time for all that?

Anyway, I'm determined to figure out how to have an abundant crop of zucchini and yellow squash. 
 Maybe some of you can help me out.  I welcome any and all suggestions.

Wishing abundance for you in all things especially your garden! 

Getting Started

Greetings!

Welcome to my new blog. I'm looking forward to sharing my urban gardening experiences with you.  My husband and I have worked hard to create a little urban oasis in our backyard and as it grows and develops, I'd like to pass along what I've learned and hopefully inspire others to take advantage of all the abundance that can be achieved from gardening even if you only have a small amount of space. 

This year I have 3 raised beds for my vegetable gardening. The pictures of these beds were taken in May just after everything was planted.  They look much different now.  In the 3 beds I have lettuce, cilantro, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, zucchini, yellow summer squash, garlic, bell pepper, jalapeno, Good Mother Stallard beans, Tiger Eye beans, red potatoes, white potatoes and 7 varieties of tomatoes. 

The 3 pots that you see have basil, oregano, calendula, dill and sage growing in them. 

This garden bed, was our new addition this year.  It was a long neglected perennial bed that needed some attention.  So we  enlarged it and added the to raised planters.  My intention is for it to become my herb garden.  I got a good start with that this year but I look forward to adding more herbs in the future. Currently, I have sage, lavender, comfrey, arnica, feverfew, oregano, rosemary, German chamomile, yarrow & evening primrose growing.  Several of the herbs were started from seed this spring.  The rest were purchased at a local nursery.  I look forward to seeing what does well in this location.  

I'm loving my herbs.  They each have wonderful aromas.  I just walk past each one of them touching them and smelling the scent that they leave on my hands.  I may even pick a leaf or two to smell.  It's fun introducing others to them, too. 

Six years ago I started gardening with just one raised bed.  Since that time my passion and love for it has grown.  I love the challenge and the results.  It's so satisfying to eat the fruits of your labor.  I hope that I can share some of my passion and inspire you start a garden of your own if you don't already have one.  I'm not an expert but I'll share what I know.  Hopefully, you'll do the same.

Blessings!