Summer squash is one of the easiest vegetables to grow and one of the more forgiving types of vegetable to cook with as well. With the proper care instructions, pollination, and adequate pest control you will be playing your games of tennis no longer, no matter how many extra zucchini you have in reserve! Or, better yet, check out 4 popular summer squash recipes that you can use up the glut of fresh zucchini that you’re going to get. Best of all, these recipes are simple enough that you could even do them on a weekend without having to worry about the results!
My favorite summer squash vegetables are the Round squash, (also known as Gemmularia or ‘Gem’) which come in two varieties: Round Silver Fruits and Round Silver Skunk Remedies. The Gems are best eaten when they’re still plump, but with a few squirts of water on them before they go into storage you can get them to fluff up nice and soft for eating. To make sure that you don’t have mold or mildew, keep an eye out for leaves that look a bit fuzzy or powdery. These are signs of Mildew, which is another problem that could cause your Summer Squash Plant to not turn out the way you want it too. If mildew develops, it’s time to buy some pots and start cleaning up.
Next, let’s talk about seeds. If you’re growing seeds, you should know that if you don’t germinate the seeds inside the squash, it won’t grow. The idea is to make sure that you put your seed in just the right environment and then allow it to get just the right amount of water and food during the weeks prior to seeding. Seeds don’t do well in heavy clay soils. If you’re having trouble germinating your squash seeds, consider mixing your soil up a bit by using some sand or crushed rock to get the seeds started.
Summer Squash Plants comes in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. If you’re growing them as singles or as reproductions, you can pinch off the pointed tips and use them as platters, bowls, and cut-outs. Or you can stick them on walls and tables as floating candleholders. Some varieties like the Sunflower look great as planters, too. You can plant them in a variety of places, from above your window to on the countertop, and they’ll grow beautifully in any garden setting.
The Summer Squash Plant also has its share of pests and diseases. Two common insects that afflict Summer Squashes are the Summer Queen Bee (also known as the White Queen) and the Black Lady Bug, which is also called the Black-Singed Lady Bug. They both do terrible damage to your squash plant. The Summer Queen Bee will ruin your entire crop, so if you see white spots all over your leaves and flowers, take them away right away and spray for pesticides.
If you’re planting seeds indoors and want to start them out on a sunny window facing east or west, watch out for the sunspots. This is where they prefer to cluster and do their feeding, so be careful and keep them contained until they’re ready to harvest fruit. When you have established vines, it’s just a matter of trimming them back every few years to give your garden planting and harvesting a nice healthy new direction to go in. And that, my friends, is how to grow summer squash!