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Squash

Seasons

 

Early Spring 
Beets            
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Carrots
Cress
Lettuce
Onions
Peas
Potatoes
Radishes
Salad Greens
Spinach

Summer
Beans
Butter Beans (Limas)
Cantaloupe/Muskmelon 
Corn
Cowpeas/Crowder
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic
Herbs
Okra
Peppers
Pumpkin  
Soybeans
Squash 
Sweet Potatoes  
Tomatoes
Watermelon

Fall
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cress
Lettuce
Peas
Radish
Salad Greens
Spinach
Turnips

Permanent Crops 

Asparagus
Blackberries
Blueberries
Grapes
Potato Onions
Rhubarb
Strawberries
Raspberries

There are many different types of squash, some are bush and some are vine crops but they all thrive under the same growing conditions and suffer from the same pest.  The difference is in the flavor and how they are fixed.

Squash is probably one of the most frustrating crops to grow.  Just as soon as it starts producing the annoying squash borer comes along with his hungry stomach and overnight the plant dies. 

There are basically three types of squash:

  • Constricted Neck
  • Zucchini Types
  • Winter

See varieties listed below.

Squash Borer:  the best thing I have found is Rotenone Dust.  It is organic so I don't mind using it, even during harvest time.  I keep the ground around the base of the plant and the leaves covered with Rotenone all the time once the plant starts to produce.  This is not a sure cure but it seems to work better than anything else I have tried.

Crookneck Squash

The dietary nutritional fact chart was taken from Whole Foods Market web site.

 Planting:

Plant seeds 12-24" apart directly into the ground as soon as all danger of frost is past the middle to end of April. Cover with 1 inch of soil.  Started plants will give you a head start.  Summer squash is very prolific and one or two plants are usually enough for an average size family.

Squash enjoys compost or aged manure worked into the soil and/or a handful of 5-10-10 per plant.  I also like to mulch to help prevent weeds and retain moisture in the soil. 

Harvest:

Squash is ready to start picking50-55 days after planting or about one week after the flower sets fruit. You will need to harvest every other day as squash matures very fast.  Pick when tender. Elongated types such as yellow and zucchini pick when they are not more than 6-8 inches long. Over mature fruit deepens in color and develops ridges.  Scallop or patty pan types should be harvested when they are 3-4 inches in diameter.  Do not leave overly mature squash on the vine as it will literally shut the plant down.

 

Constricted Neck Types

Commonly known as yellow squash.  Very popular summer squash, great for casseroles and frying.

Varieties Days Description
Seneca Prolific 45 Very heavy hybrid producer of yellow summer straightneck squash. One of the most popular.
*Early Prolific Straightneck 50 Bush plant with bright yellow squash with straight neck. Very prolific.  Harvest when 6-8" long. Splendid quality.
*Golden  Summer Crookneck 52 Bush plant with bright yellow squash with crooked neck.  Harvest when 6-8 inches long.
Sundance 52 Crookneck type with bold yellow skin and full crooked, medium thick, neck. Widely adaptable.
Goldbar 53 High yielding, smooth, cylindrical, straightneck, golden yellow hybrid squash. Upright, open bush and very easy to harvest.  Most prolific.

*My favorite.  We are not big squash lovers but we do really like the straightneck squash sliced thin and fried in margarine with onions until browned.  Seasoned with salt and pepper.

 

Zucchini Types

Are usually club shaped with dark green skin.

Varieties Days Description
Seneca Zucchini 42 Most prolific , green zucchini.  More fruit earlier with larger total yields and greater fruit uniformity. Great flavor and firm texture.  Excellent for home garden.
Black Beauty 45 Zucchini type with glossy fruit 8" with 1-2" diameter.  Good flavor and good for market or home.
Black Zucchini 47 Cylindrical shaped fruit 7" long and 2" thick.  Slightly fluted, dark black green.
Sun Drops 50-55 Oval shaped summer squash.  Compact bush.  Yellow fruit with nutty flavor.  3-4 inches in diameter.
  Bennings Green-Tinted White Bush 52 Preferred by home gardeners.  Attractive green tinted color, even scallops and delicious quality.
Gold Rush 52 Zucchini type with glossy golden skin, straight and uniform with almost no bulbing.  Creamy white flesh and vigorous plant production.
Aristocrat 53 Good fresh or cooked.  Early producer,  Very fine, dark green, smooth, cylindrical zucchini type.  Vigorous plant, single stemmed and open for easy harvest.  Produces high yields over long period of time. 
Early White Bush or Patty Pan 55 Fine dwarf sort producing many small white squash with scalloped edges.

 

Winter Squash

Larger, fleshy squash, great for baking and winter keeping.

Varieties Days Description
Table Ace 70 Hybrid semi-bush plant, 4-1/2 to 5-1/2" black acorn type fruit. Abundant producer of outstanding, smooth, sweet flesh and dark exterior.  Great for winter keeping.
Table Queen or Acorn (summer or winter squash) 80 Size of a coconut and great for cutting in half and baking.  Cooks dry and keeps well.
Butternut 95 Smooth, hard, pale orange fleshed fruits are nearly cylindrical 9-11" long and 4-5" in diameter. Great for baking.  Can be used in place of pumpkin in recipes.
Turk's Turban 100 Heavy yields of 8-10" bright orange-red, flattened fruits with buttons. Striped and spotted with varied rich colors.  Great for fall and winter decorations.
Green Hubbard 105 Most popular winter variety. Fruits are hard with green warted skin.  Yellow flesh of rich quality.
Vegetable Spaghetti

 

 110 Harvest when 8-10" long.  Serve with spaghetti sauce.  Cook whole for 30 minutes in boiling water, cut in half, remove seeds and pull out spaghetti.

Note:  Pictures were taken from Wetsel Seed web page

There are lots more varieties available, depending on your seed company and the section of the country you are from.