Whether you prefer it steam , sautéed , baked or in bread , squelch is one of Mother Nature ’s super foods . Squash is high in vitamin A , antioxidant and fibre . These members of thecucurbitfamily include summertime squash rackets , winter squash and pumpkins . Inedible gourds , also classified as squash , are used ornamentally .
Summer Squash
summertime crush is the easiest to get of all the squash types . These flora produce fertile amounts of fruit , maturing in as few as 45 days , depending on the variety . Most summer squeeze are bush types , make them a good option for container garden .
1.Zucchiniis a staple in many garden . The dark green , motley fruits are pleasant-tasting steamed , sautéed , or bake in courgette bread . Try ‘ embassador , ’ President Hybrid , ’ or ‘ Gold rushing , ’ a yellow courgette .
2.Yellow Squashhave a mellower taste and softer form than courgette . sample ‘ Early Prolific Straightneck , ’ Goldbar ’ and ‘ Early Summer Crookneck . ’
CC Flickr photo courtesy of enil
3.Patty PanorScallop Squashhave a charming , rounded shape and pocket-size shape . Pick them when they are 2 to 3 in across for the most flavorful fruit . adjudicate ‘ Peter Pan , ’ Bush Scallop , ’ or ‘ Scallopini . ’
Winter Squash
Winter squash rackets are the heavyweights of the squash family . They require a long develop time of year of 90 to 120 days , depending on the variety , and call for lots of water and nutrient .
4.Butternut Squashmature in 100 day , and have a creamy , sweet texture , staring for soups and sauces . Try ‘ Butternut , ’ ‘ Waltham , ’ or ‘ Sweet Mama . ’ “ Emerald ’ is a bush mixed bag suitable for container gardens .
5.Acorn Squashhave a meaty , slightly thready texture than butternut , but are fantabulous steamed . Acorn squash are among the earliest of the wintertime squash , maturing in 70 to 80 days . They also usually have a pubic hair physical body , requiring less space . essay ‘ board King , ’ or ‘ Ebony Acorn . ’
CC Flickr photo courtesy of enil
6.Hubbard Squashproduce fruit weighing 10 lb . or more . Try erstwhile favorite , such as ‘ Blue Hubbard ’ or ‘ Golden Hubbard , ’ or try more alien type , such as ‘ Turk ’s Turban , ’ a colorful , turban - shaped squash .
Pumpkins
Pumpkins take up a lot of room in the garden — 30 straight feet or more per plant . Still , those gay orangish globe brighten the fall landscape painting like nothing else . If you ’re going to go to the trouble of growing pumpkins – and it ’s really not that much difficulty – plant varieties not normally found in the grocery store . Your kids will love them , the neighbour nestling will love them , and fall decorating becomes as easy as a saunter through the pumpkin patch .
7.Heirloom Pumpkinslike ‘ Cinderella ’ come in a variety of hue and shapes . ‘ Cinderella ’ has brilliant orange - red skin and a squat , ribbed form .
8.Miniature Pumpkinsfit in the medal of your hand and are a sound pick for decorating , or for small children . Try ‘ Jack Be lilliputian ’ and ‘ Munchkin . ’
9.Pie Pumpkinshave a smooth , creamy pulp suitable for baking and preparation . Try two bush smorgasbord , ‘ Small Sugar ’ or ‘ Spirit . ’ Both maturate well in containers .
Gourds
gourd involve 120 to 140 day to produce , but these inedible , hard - shelled squash rackets make interesting birdhouse , cups or even sponger .
10.Cucurbita Gourdsare unremarkably trade in grocery store for dip decorating . They may be brightly colored with warts and blow . judge ‘ White Egg , ’ ‘ Orange Warted ’ or ‘ Mini Red Turban . ’
Growing Squash
Choose a sunny garden area with fecund , well - run out territory . rectify the territory with compost or manure to better the dirt texture and engraft the seeds two or three weeks after the last expected frost . Squash do not germinate well in cold , sozzled soils .
Plant the seed in mound , site six seeds in each hill , spaced six column inch asunder . Thin to three plant life when they endure four inch gamy . Thin again to one flora per hill when the plants are 12 in high , choose the level-headed plant . Three plant are commonly plenty for one kin . Side dress squash plants with a few shovelfuls of manure or a generous handful of a balanced , synthetic fertiliser when the plants begin to flower . circulate the plant food on the soil 2 to 3 feet around the plant life , covering the entire etymon system , advises Barbara Damrosch , generator ofThe Garden Primer .
Squash need at least 1 column inch of water per week to produce their big vines , foliage and yield . irrigate them profoundly two or three time per week , as needed , to keep the soil evenly moist .
Harvest summer squash when the fruits are young and firm . senior summertime crush become fibrous and tough . crop winter squash and pumpkins in mid- to former - fall , but before the first concentrated freeze . Summer squash rackets ‘ Costata Romanesca , ’ and ‘ Golden Bush Zucchini ’ , as well as winter squash ‘ Sunshine F1 ’ are yummy sliced and dry out in a dehydrator , harmonize to Carol Deppe , source ofThe Resilient Gardener .
Whether you have a large garden plot or terrace container , there ’s a variety of squash for every gardener . If you have limited distance , try summer squash or bush varieties of winter squash and pumpkins .
