Squash is one of those vegetables that can give you an amazing harvest from just a few plants. In fact, if you've ever grown zucchini, you probably know that a couple of healthy plants can sometimes produce more squash than you know what to do with!
There are lots of different varieties, but growing them doesn't have to be complicated. Give squash plenty of sunshine, room to grow, regular water, and a little fertilizer, and you're off to a good start.
SUMMER SQUASH VS. WINTER SQUASH
Don't let the names make this confusing. Both are grown during warm weather.
Summer squash includes zucchini, yellow squash, pattypan, and similar varieties. They're harvested while the skin is still tender and are usually produced on fairly compact plants.
Winter squash includes butternut, acorn, spaghetti squash, pumpkins, and similar varieties. They're allowed to fully mature and develop a hard rind before harvesting.
Winter squash also tends to grow on long vines, so give it plenty of room.
HOW TO PLANT SQUASH
Squash loves warm weather, so wait until the danger of frost has passed before planting outside.
I think the easiest method is to plant the seeds directly in the garden. Squash grows quickly from seed, so there's usually no reason to make this more complicated than it needs to be.
Plant seeds about 1 inch deep.
For bush-type summer squash, give plants approximately 2–3 feet of space.
Vining winter squash needs considerably more room. Check your seed packet because some vines can spread several feet.
You can also plant several seeds together and thin them after they sprout, keeping the strongest plants.
CARING FOR SQUASH
Sunlight
Plant squash where it will receive plenty of sunshine. Six to eight hours of direct sun is a good goal.
Watering
Squash plants grow quickly and those huge leaves can lose a lot of moisture during hot weather.
Water deeply whenever the soil begins getting dry.
Once the plants begin producing squash, consistent watering becomes particularly important.
A layer of mulch around the plants can help keep moisture in the soil and cut down on weeds.
Fertilizing
You don't need a complicated fertilizer schedule.
When the plants begin flowering, give them some all-purpose vegetable fertilizer according to the package directions.
If your plants are producing heavily and begin looking like they need another boost, you can feed them again later in the season.
LOTS OF FLOWERS BUT NO SQUASH?
This is probably one of the most confusing things for someone growing squash for the first time.
You may see lots of beautiful yellow flowers but no squash.
Don't panic.
Squash plants produce separate male and female flowers, and the male flowers often show up first.
Look behind the flower. A female flower will have what looks like a tiny squash underneath it. A male flower grows on a plain stem.
Bees normally take care of pollination for you.
If those tiny squash start growing and then turn yellow, shrivel, or fall off, poor pollination may be the problem.
You can even pollinate the flowers yourself by transferring pollen from a male flower to a female flower with a small paintbrush or cotton swab.
IF YOUR SQUASH ISN'T DOING WELL
Squash is easy to grow, but unfortunately, a few bugs love it as much as we do.
Plant suddenly wilts even though it has water: Check the base of the stem. Squash vine borers can damage the inside of the stem and cause an otherwise healthy-looking plant to suddenly wilt.
Leaves are damaged or bugs are clustered around the plant: Check for squash bugs, especially underneath the leaves where they may lay eggs.
Small squash turns yellow and falls off: Poor pollination is a common cause.
Squash is misshapen: Incomplete pollination can sometimes produce oddly shaped fruit.
Bottom of the squash turns dark and begins to rot: Blossom-end rot can be associated with problems getting enough calcium to the developing fruit, often because soil moisture has been inconsistent. Concentrate on keeping the soil evenly watered rather than immediately adding calcium.
White powder appears on the leaves: This is often powdery mildew. Some mildew later in the season isn't unusual, but good airflow around plants can help.
HARVESTING SUMMER SQUASH
Here's one of the most important things to know about summer squash:
Don't wait for it to get huge.
Zucchini and yellow squash taste best when they're young and tender.
Check your plants every day or two once they begin producing. Squash can grow amazingly fast.
One day you'll see a tiny zucchini, and a couple of days later you may wonder how a baseball bat got into your garden!
Cut the squash from the plant with a knife or garden shears rather than pulling on the plant.
Regular harvesting also encourages the plant to continue producing.
HARVESTING WINTER SQUASH
Winter squash is different.
Instead of picking it young, leave it on the vine until it has fully matured and developed a hard rind.
One easy test is to gently press your fingernail against the skin. When properly mature, the rind should be difficult to puncture.
Cut the squash from the vine and leave a short section of stem attached.
Many winter squash varieties can be stored for months when properly cured and kept in a cool, dry location.
PRESERVING YOUR SQUASH
Summer squash can be refrigerated for several days after picking.
For longer storage, it can also be frozen. Wash and cut the squash, blanch it briefly in boiling water, cool it quickly in ice water, drain, package, and freeze.
Winter squash keeps much longer without freezing. Once properly cured, many varieties can be stored in a cool, dry area for weeks or even months.
And yes, under the bed can work! If you have a cool spare bedroom or another cool, dry area, it's an easy place to tuck away winter squash—as long as you remember it's there.
DON'T OVERTHINK GROWING SQUASH
Squash doesn't need to be complicated.
Wait until the weather is warm. Plant a few seeds. Give the plants plenty of sunshine and room. Keep them watered. Give them some fertilizer once they begin flowering.
Then start checking for squash.
You may have to deal with a squash bug or vine borer along the way, but don't let the long lists of possible garden problems scare you away from growing it.
A couple of healthy squash plants can produce an incredible amount of food—and you really don't have to fuss over them every day to get a good harvest.