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Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo
Squash can be grown on balconies, terraces or in a sheltered spot in the kitchen garden. There are several varieties which can bear fruit for up to 3 months.
Squash--a fruit "cooked by the sun"
Squash, also known by its French name of "courgette" or its Italian name of "zucchini," is a type of melon. Its botanical name is Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo, where pepo means "cooked by the sun."
Grown by the Indians The squash probably comes from the tropical areas of America. It is not known to grow in the wild. The Indians cultivated this plant in the fields with Indian corn long before Europeans set foot on the continent.
Two Types
Two types of squash are generally cultivated.
One is a climber and the other is a bush. Most types of Summer
Squash belongs to the latter group. The bush plants do not take up
as much room as the climbers nor do they have as vigorous a growth.
They are suitable for cultivation in the garden, on balconies or on
patios, where they can be grown in tubs or boxes. The fruits can
be used in many ways.
How to use them The very small squash can be eaten raw in salads and the slightly larger fruits are good to use in casseroles or stuffed and baked in the oven. The large, ripe fruits, which are high in B and C vitamins, can be peeled and preserved in jars, sometimes together with ginger. The seeds are rich in oil which can be used for cooking.
Varieties 'Summer Crookneck' and 'Summer Straightneck' are two common varieties of yellow Summer Squash. Their names aptly describe their shapes.
'Ambassador' and 'Aristocrat' are two Zucchini varieties, with long dark green fruits.
'White Bush Scallop' is a variety of Pattypan Squash, with round, white, scalloped-edge fruits.
How to grow squash-- from April through October
Squash plants love sun and heat and hate frost. They cannot tolerate long periods of damp, cold weather and strong winds can ruin the leaves. The plants have a very short season but grow quickly. It may be better to start them from seed indoors before planting them outside.
Sow the seeds in pots of commercial propagating soil
at about 1 inch deep. Sow 2 seeds in each pot and remove the
weaker of the two when they germinate.
Pots and tubs should be watered well, but avoid getting cold water on the leaves. Use a high-phosphorous fertilizer to promote flowering and fruit set. Harvest the courgettes when they are only 4-8 inches long and new ones will grow. If the fruits are left too long on the plant, it will stop producing new ones.
Plant Doctor
These are all healthy plants, especially when growing well in the open air.
Mildew can attack the leaves in dry periods. Prevent this by remembering to water when necessary.
Snails seem to have a taste for young leaves. Remove them by hand.
Buy seeds of varieties best suited to your climate. They are widely available from garden centers or seed catalogs.
Lifespan: Summer annuals, from April-May to the first frost.
Season: From July to October, or for as long as the plant bears fruit.
Difficulty quotient: A very easy plant as long as it gets enough of warmth and sunshine. Also called: Courgette or Zucchini.
In Brief
Size and growth rate The commonly cultivated varieties of squash are annuals, they have a bushy growth and do not climb. They will grow rapidly to 3-4 across with large, sometimes marbled, leaves on long stalks.
Flowering and fragrance The flowers are large and yellow. The plants are normally pollinated by insects but they may sometimes need a little human help. The flowers have no fragrance.
Light and temperature All melon and pumpkin type plants need as much warmth as possible in the summer. They love sheltered, sunny gardens. They can start to grow at temperatures from 60°F, upwards in spring and will die as soon as the first wave of cold sweeps across them in fall.
Watering and feeding Plants with well-developed roots can tolerate a certain amount of dryness but potted plants will always need to be watered regularly. Feed once a week after the first flowers appear.
Soil and transplanting Repot plants into tubs or boxes of well-drained, porous, fertile soil in June. Use large pots to provide ample room for the roots.
Grooming No thinning or pruning needed.
Propagating Sow seeds indoors in pots in April-May. Repot seedlings, harden them off and plant them out in June. Germination takes 8-15 days.
Environment As house plants on balconies or patios, or in the garden. With good weather, the plants will produce fruit for 3 months. |
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Cover the seeds with 1/4 inch of sand. Keep them around 68°-70°F,
and they will germinate within 8-15 days. After germination the
temperature can be lowered to about 60°F. When the first set of
true leaves appears, the seedlings can be transferred into larger pots.
Plant them so the new leaves are just above the surface. When
planting out, use a porous and humus-rich soil and leave at least a yard
between each plant.
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