Bush Vine Crops Save Space

The term vine crop generally refers to cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber, squash and pumpkin, all of which produce long vines. However, more recently in an effort to fit into smaller gardens, varieties of these crops have been developed that produce a bushy plant, or one that has short, compact vines. Where plenty of space is available, the productivity and quality of vining types may still be preferred.

Even in limited space, vine crops such as cucumbers may be trained on fences or trellises. In very small gardens, though, the new bush vine crops make it possible to grow those plants never recommended previously for such limited areas. Bush forms of squash are not new, although new varieties in winter squash are more recent.

A new bush cucumber is called Whopper. It was designed for pot culture as well as for small gardens. The cucumbers produced on the dwarf plants are about normal size, growing from 6 to 8 inches long. The new watermelon for the small garden is called Sugar bush. Melons produced on it are the "icebox" type, weighing from 6 to 8 pounds.

Although it is not exactly a "bush, "the vines are short and compact, reaching a length of only 2'2 to 3'2 feet, quite short for watermelons. Another new introduction is the compact-growing cantaloupe Short 'n' Sweet. Although fruits produced are smaller than the average cantaloupe, several may be produced on each plant. As with many of the other bush vines crops, they are so new that testing in our area has been limited. Their performance under our conditions is largely unknown at this point.

Bush pumpkins were first introduced several years ago with the release of a variety called Cinderella. Pumpkins produced by these plants are bright orange and grow up to about 10 inches in diameter. Another variety, called Spirit, is available. It is an All American selection with a semi-bush-type growth growth. Although this variety produces vines, they are short and compact. Fruit is generally up to about 12 inches in diameter. They are bright orange and make excellent jack-o-lantern pumpkins. Both varieties are early producers, setting and maturing fruit several weeks before vining types of pumpkins.

http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/info/Vegetables/vines.asp