Squash (Cucurbita) is a very popular vegetable from the gourd family that is grown by many in the garden and backyard. As long as you stick to the basics, learning how to grow squash at home is easy.
There are so many different types of squash. Though squash are technically fruits, with their seeds and skins with no fleshy pulp or hull, they are referred to as vegetables because they typically serve the same purpose in recipes; so too pumpkin. There are over 50 varieties of squash, but of course, not all are suitable for growing in the typical home garden.
Traditionally, summer is the time to grow the types of squash that people consume most. Therefore, continue reading as we explore growing squash in the home backyard.
Kinds of Squash You Can Grow At Home
Squash plants are very easy to grow and tend to produce far more than you can eat. Among its health benefits: It gets 7.9/10 points from NutritionData for choline, which is equivalent to collards. Squash is not new to gardens; you can grow squash just about anywhere, big garden or small, and most climates.
Summer Squash
Mostly classified under Cucurbita pepo, summer squash is one of the easiest squashes to grow. These are squash that are harvested young. It is a favorite in home gardens, and includes different varieties such as zucchini, yellow squash, and pattypan. Each variety has its own flavor profile and growing/harvesting requirements.
Like its name, summer squash can be planted in summer to enjoy plenty of fruit throughout the season, as long as it receives full sun and well-drained soil.
- Zucchini: Zukes love warm weather, full sun, and well-drained soil. In addition to simply frying them, zucchin can be prepared in other ways. Zucchini goes well with dishes like soups or salads, desserts, sweet marmalades, or zucchini pasta with tomato sauce. This fast-growing, high-yielding plant is very popular among amateur gardeners. Pick zucchini when they are at about 6-8 inches long to ensure they are tender and most flavorful. The larger they get, the tougher they become. It can be utilized in a lot of the same types of dishes that summer squash are used in, like salads, sautés, and even baked goods (like zucchini bread).
- Yellow Squash: Another summer favorite, yellow squash (often called as simply summer squash) includes both straightneck and crookneck varieties. They contain slightly more sugar than zucchini and their skin is bright yellow. Growing requirements for yellow squash plants are similar to zucchini: full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. Squashes should be harvested while they are still 4-7 inches long, otherwise the skin will become tough. Yellow squash is great for grilling, roasting, and stuffing. Simply adding yellow squash to casseroles or stir-fries works too.
Winter Squash
Winter squash comes in varieties such as butternut, acorn squash and everyone’s favorite pumpkin, and are known for their hard rinds and long storage life. This allows them to be enjoyed well into the winter months. These squashes require a longer growing season, typically around 80-100 days depending on type (compared to the 50-60 odd days for summer squash), and prefer full sun and rich, well-drained soil.
- Butternut squash has a sweet, nutty flavor and smooth texture, making it ideal for soups and roasting.
- Acorn squash is smaller with a ribbed rind and sweet, yellow-orange flesh, making them ideal for baking or stuffing.
Rule of thumb: Harvest winter squash when the rinds are hard and the skin is deep in color.
Specialty Squash
Specialty squashes include varieties like spaghetti squash and pattypan squash.
- Spaghetti squash, with its unique stringy flesh, is great for those looking to replace traditional pasta with a lower-calorie option. It matures in about 90-100 days, and requires full sun and regular watering.
- Pattypan squash, or scallop squash as mentioned above, is a summer variety with a distinctive, flying saucer shape. It is best harvested when small and tender, typically within 45-70 days.
Why Squash Are Perfect For Growing At Home
Squash is the perfect crop for home gardeners because it is practically foolproof to grow, and it produces yields like no other vegetable. Squash can be grown in garden beds, containers, pots, and vertical trellises. They are that versatile.
Thus, with appropriate space, you can tailor their growth to your personal gardening taste. Squash plants are quite easy to grow, only needing water every few days, and they do best in full sun with some fertilizer from time to time. They are likewise immune to lots of common pests and conditions, which is a result of their hardiness.
Because they yield a lot, you will be getting zucchinis just about every day, all season long. This makes squash a great option for home growers who want to grow the most food they can.
How to Grow Squash at Home: 5 Practical Steps for Guaranteed Results
Here are five practical steps to ensure successful cultivation and a bountiful harvest for summer squash.
1. Choose the Right Variety and Prepare the Soil
Summer squash for example, includes zucchini, yellow squash, and pattypan. So choose the variety according to your taste and local climate. Make sure the soil has been prepared, and plant summer squash in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8.
Improve the soil by adding compost and/or animal manure to improve fertility, humus, and drainage. Like many other vegetables, squash plants prefer well-drained soil and some warmth, so mounds or raised beds that are mulched can help improve drainage and create warmer soil conditions.
2. Planting Seeds
Summer squash is available grown either from seed, or from transplants. If started from seeds, begin them indoors eight weeks before the last frost, then set out seedlings in the garden after all danger of frost has passed; soil should be at least 60°F/15.5°C.
Plant seeds 1 inch deep at a distance of about 2 to 3 feet between each other in rows placed around 3 to 4 feet apart. Plant them at the same spacing to ensure enough space for the plants to develop. Sow seeds every two weeks (in staggered planting fashion) until midsummer for a consistent harvest.
Since squash are vining plants, provide a trellis for them to climb. Trellises are not mandatory, but there are many benefits to providing them, some of which are saving on space and vertical gardening. Squash need a bit of time to send out their tendrils, but once they start climbing, you can let them grow on their own. A frame trellises, tower trellises, cattle panels, or even just simple bamboo sticks work fine as trellises.
3. Provide Adequate Watering and Mulching
Regular watering is vital to keep squash plants healthy. To prevent dehydration, keep the plants uniformly moist by watering deeply as often as once every week or two, to supply about 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on rainfall and temperatures at your location.
Do not over-water to prevent fungal diseases, and water at the base of plants instead. Mulching around the plants retains soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and maintains more uniform soil temperature. Good selections include straw or shredded leaves (organic mulch).
4. Fertilize and Monitor for Pests
Apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer or similar, following package instructions when you feed your squash plants. Apply fertilizer once when the plants are about 6 inches tall, and again as blooming begins. Look for common pests like squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and aphids.
Where possible, handpick pests or resort to the occasional use of insecticidal soap/neem oil for more severe infestations. Attracting helpful insects like ladybugs and lacewings with flowers like marigold, fennel, and yarrow, also helps to keep pest numbers down naturally.
5. Harvest Regularly and Encourage Continuous Production
Continuous harvest (such as from staggered planting) encourages the plants to produce continually and helps keeps summer squash fruits small and tender. Staggered planting is basically sowing or planting in batches spread out over a period of time. That way, you extend your harvesting, and don’t have to deal with too much at any one time.
For your best bet for freshness and texture, choose zucchini and yellow squash when they are 6-8 inches long and pattypan squash when they are 2-4 inches in diameter.
Cut the squash from the vine with a sharp knife/pruning shears so you do not harm the plant. Harvesting a few good ones each day every three days makes for a continuous supply of tender, tasty squash.
The Takeaway
Growing summer squash at home can be a rewarding experience, providing you with an abundance of fresh and nutritious vegetables throughout the season. Plus growing squash yourself can be fun – and delicious. How about starting today?
