Squash and other curcubits don't transplant well beyond the seedling stage. Chances are , it wasn't competition, it was the transplant process.
POTATOES - they don't like lime (sweet soil) unlike most other garden plants .
Some folk use a small quantity of wood ashes to gently acidify the soil , and increase cellulose and fiber in the soil .
Potato HARVEST Sequence : plant prepared eyes in trench , cover ,allow growth, hill the rows, allow more gowth,hill the rows ,
plants will flower , last hill the rows , plant die back , harvest.
Grasshopper Control :
ENTOMOPHAGY : In third world countries they Learn how to roast/ toast and eat well. Add Tobassco and close your eyes. Considered by many to be Mexican delacacy
High value in Chitinin Excellent protein source known in 3rd world , and highly reccomended by the UN as a food source.
CHEMICAL : Ortho’s Bug-B-Gon, For grasshoppers, use products containing diazinon , or dibrom
ORGANIC : #1 encourage birds and wildlife with a bird feeder (sunflower seeds, cracked corn, millet) which will gladly eat the grasshoppers ,
provide roosting bushes to encourage birds in the yard.
#2 crushed tomato leaves, made into a tea , strained , and sprayed on victimized plants will repel. Apply as necessary. YMMV
I do so very much appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge about the various plant friends I had in my garden this year, TIK...including the grasshoppers!
While I have understood for some time that grasshoppers are indeed edible and highly nutritious, and are considered a special delicacy in many cultures, I am not quite ready yet to eat them. But if compelled, I know I likely would be pleasantly surprised. I imagine what I would do first would be to dry them, powder them, then add them to a soup for the protein content. “What you do know....” etc.