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Video: How to Grow Summer Squash • From Seed to Harvest
Today I'm planting summer squash. This is 'Zephyr', a unique variety with yellow fruits that have pale white stripes and light green bottoms. And of course, the plants, as you would expect, are ridiculously productive. They produce so many wonderful fruits.
Sowing Summer Squash
And summer squash really shouldn't be planted until after the last frost is over, in late spring, and the soil is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (or 15 degrees Celsius).
Before you plant summer squash, dig in plenty of compost or aged manure, because it really loves rich soil. In fact, you could also plant in seasoned straw bales or a compost pile.
Summer squash can be direct-seeded or you can give the plants a 3–4-week head-start indoors.
When you do plant, you would usually plant in beds or hills. In beds I space the seed 1 foot apart, eventually thinning to 2–3 feet. And in hills I plant 3–4 seeds per hill, spacing the hills 5–6 feet apart.
Growing Summer Squash
I planted my 'Zephyr' summer squash in my raised garden beds, as well as in my straw bales. And as you can see, they're loving the summer heat.
To keep the plants growing well so they'll be very productive, I make sure I deep-water twice a week if there's been no rain.
I also fertilize every 2–3 weeks with a liquid organic fertilizer.
Besides slugs, be on the lookout for pests like squash bugs. To prevent squash bugs:
- I practice good crop rotation, which means I don't plant in the same spot from year to year.
- I use lightweight row covers when I first plant my seeds or seedlings, to prevent the adults from laying eggs on the plants. Then once the plants begin to flower, I remove the covers, to allow good pollination.
To prevent diseases like powdery mildew:
- I make sure to space the plants very well, to allow good air circulation;
- I crop-rotate;
- and when I water, I try not to wet the leaves. Instead, I water the base of the plant.
Succession Plant
Finally, don't forget to succession plant. You can plant more squash seeds every month until 2 months before your first expected fall frost date.
Harvesting Summer Squash
It's time to harvest from my 'Zephyr' summer squash. And the most important point to remember about harvesting summer squash is to do it often. I harvest from my plants 2–3 times a week, but I do check on them daily, just to see if there's any fruits ready to pick. And of course, 'Zephyr' is such a delicious variety, with an outstanding flavor and beautiful tender fruit.
Let's grab our clippers and start to harvest. When you are ready to remove a fruit, don't just pull it from the plant. Instead, you can twist it but I prefer to use clips to take it cleanly and easily off the plant. Otherwise, you can risk breaking the fruit or damaging it. And damaged or bruised fruits certainly don't store well. So make sure you clip it or carefully twist it from the vine.
Summer squash is generally harvested when the fruits are 6–8 inches long. Or, if you're growing the round or patty pan types, when they're 2–3 inches across.
Finally, don't forget the flowers. They are also edible, and can be stuffed and fried for a yummy summer treat.
Happy Gardening!
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