Squash in Your Garden University of California Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County June 2007
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Squash in Your Garden University of California Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County June 2007 Squash belong to the family acorn, banana, spaghetti and Cucurbitaceae, which includes Hubbard squash. gourds, melons, cucumbers and pumpkins. SQUASH PLANTS & SEEDS SQUASH TYPES Summer and winter squash Squash are broken into two are normally planted from the bottom of the page from the groups: summer and winter. seed, and many varieties are University of Georgia has more These categories are available at local nurseries detailed information and an explained more fully below. and garden centers. Catalogs excellent illustration on which can also be a good source for crops will cross-pollinate. Summer finding seeds. Summer squash is picked and BUSH VS VINE eaten as immature fruit during Some varieties of summer When purchasing seeds, the the summer as its name squash are available as small packet will note whether the suggests. Types of summer plants at local nurseries and variety is “bush” or “vine.” squash include yellow, gardening centers. Commonly Bush types are ideal for straight or crookneck squash, found types include gardeners with limited space, as zucchini squash and white, crookneck and zucchini they only need 2-4 feet between saucer-shaped scallop or patty squash. them. If the packet does not use pan squash. Seeds and plants for squash the word “bush”, assume the Winter should be planted after the plant is a vine and needs at least The name “winter” squash possibility of frost has passed. 8 feet of space. Vines can also can be a bit misleading. This In Stanislaus County, this is be grown on a strong trellis, squash can be eaten in the usually after March 21st (10% with the squash hanging down. summer, fall, or winter chance of frost after this date). PLANTING SQUASH depending on how you wish Squash are generally grown on to use it. POLLINATION MYTH Often gardeners worry that mounds surrounded by an In summer, winter squash can planting squash, melons, irrigation furrow. Mounds be harvested small and eaten cucumbers and pumpkins in should be flat on top so water like summer squash. More their garden will result in flowing through irrigation commonly, winter squash is undesirable fruit due to furrows can be absorbed. See harvested and eaten in the fall, cross-pollination. illustration at the bottom of the or “cured” and stored for use Cross-pollination is not next page. Plant 2-3 seeds per in the winter. Storage times something most gardeners mound 1 inch deep. While seeds vary depending on the variety, need to worry about, as it are sprouting and growing, keep See the table at the end of this affects only the seeds and not soil moist. Once seedlings guide for more information. the crop. Gardeners who save emerge and become healthy seeds to plant the following plants, thin to one plant per Familiar winter squash year should use caution when mound. varieties found in the planting certain species in the Deep water squash plants, supermarket include butternut, cucurbit family. The link at http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/L232.htm Squash in Your Garden soaking the root zone to at Male flowers can be flower may be picked, it’s least 4 feet. Between watering, recognized by their long, leaves removed and the pollen allow soil to dry slightly, as slender stem, while female bearing structure (anthers) can squash roots need oxygen as flowers have a short stem and a be rolled onto the structure well as water to thrive. small miniature fruit, or ovary, (stigma) in the middle of the at the base of the flower. female flower. This is a When Central Valley labor-intensive and time temperatures reach 100°F , The first few flowers on your consuming process. plants may wilt-even if squash plant may drop off, watered adequately. This is a which is normal. This is PESTS temporary condition and plants because male flowers begin to Common insect pests of should revive that night or by bloom before female flowers. squash include the cucumber the next morning. If plants do Fruit set will occur later when beetle as well as the squash not revive, this means not both male and female flowers bug. enough water is soaking into are open at the same time. the root zone. Cucumber beetles resemble After fruit set, some small lady beetles but are shiny and Sprinkler irrigation is not fruits may also drop off. This is greenish-yellow. Their larvae recommended when growing a part of the natural thinning feed exclusively on roots and squash, as it won’t provide process done by the plant to usually don’t cause substantial deep water for the plants and ensure surviving fruits reach damage to the plant. may even encourage some full size. Cucumber beetle adults, diseases. however, are difficult to If fruits continually drop and control. Place a protective Squash prefer to grow in soil never set fruit, the plant may covering over young seedlings rich in organic matter, so add be over-watered or over- and plants until they are old plenty of compost, composted fertilized. If you are watering enough to withstand damage. manure or humus before correctly and not over-applying Squash bugs are 5/8” long planting. If fertilizer is needed, fertilizer, the problem might be with brownish black bodies. purchase a vegetable fertilizer due to an insufficient number Abdomens may be orange or with a nutrient analysis of of bees in your area. orange-striped. When 10-10-5 or 12-12-12, or similar BEES & POLLINATION crushed, this insect has a numbers. disagreeable odor. Adults are If you have planted squash FRUIT SET without success in the past, it very difficult to kill. Pick Squash and other cucurbits are may be due to an insufficient bugs off or hold a bucket monoecious, meaning they number of honeybees in your of soapy hot water and knock have both male and female neighborhood. bugs into it while walking flowers on the same plant. Pollen is transferred between Hand pollination can be male and female flowers by done using a small honeybees, although other paintbrush to transfer flying insects do play a small pollen from the male part. flower to the female flower. Or, the male Squash in Your Garden Cucumber beetle Squash bug “blossom end rot.” This that week, or “cure” for later disorder is common in sandy use. To do this, place the soils with low organic matter. squash in a dark place for 10 Be sure the crop is well days at 80-85°F. Then, store watered, but also allow the soil in a dark, dry place at 50-60°F to dry out slightly between for several months. Ensure watering. In some cases, the squash chosen to keep are free crop will benefit from an from damage or they will rot through your garden. application of calcium and cause the rest of your fertilizer. squash harvest to rot. To prevent insects from living in your garden during winter For more information about Winter squash have various and reappearing the following pests, diseases and keeping times; see the table at year, destroy all vegetation by environmental disorders of the end of this guide for more tilling it into the soil or by squash, consult the link below information. composting. or visit the UC Cooperative SQUASH BLOSSOMS DISEASES Extension Office. In some cultures it is All Cucurbits are susceptible to HARVEST customary to consume squash powdery mildew, a fungus Harvest summer squash when blossoms. They are said to with a fluffy, whitish cast. To small for best flavor. Use a have a delicate, zucchini-like control it, avoid the use of knife to cut fruit from the vine, flavor. Pumpkin and zucchini overhead sprinklers. In some leaving a small stem on the blossoms are generally used. cases, fungicides may be squash. Gloves are helpful Winter squash blossoms are needed. Consult the UC when harvesting, as plants and too bitter to be eaten. If you Cooperative Extension office fruits are prickly. Several are worried about not getting or a local qualified nursery varieties of zucchini guarantee enough squash, pick only professional for more a “painless harvest.” Two such male blossoms as they do not information. varieties are ‘Spineless Beauty’ set fruit. ENVIRONMENTAL and ‘Garden Spineless.’ Squash blossoms can be DISORDERS Winter squash are ready to grilled, stuffed, sautéed, fried If fruit and flowers continually harvest when the rind hardens or put into soups. Pick drop and fruit doesn’t set, the and the skin takes on a dull blossoms and use them in the problem may be related to cast. Check the rind with a same day. insufficient pollination. Follow fingernail; if the skin can’t be directions given under the dented, the squash is ready. If HEALTH BENEFITS “Fruit Set” section of this possible, allow squash to stay Summer and winter squash guide. on the vine until the vine are full of fiber, beta carotene, vitamin ‘C’, niacin, If fruit sets on the vine but begins to die. potassium, manganese, begins to show small, light When harvesting winter magnesium, calcium and iron. brown spots on the blossom squash, use a knife and leave a end of the fruit that turn 2 inch stem on the squash to leathery, the problem may be help it last longer. Eat squash http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/VEGES/squash.html Squash in Your Garden Guide Days to Summer Squash Maturity Comments Crook Neck 50-53 Yellow-colored rind. Harvest when fruits are small (4-6” long) for best flavor. Cucuzzi 55-60 Use when 1” in diameter and 6” long.