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 commonly 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 favorable 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 coarse varieties of yellow Summer Squash. Their names aptly enumerate their shapes.
'Ambassador' and 'Aristocrat' are two Zucchini varieties, with long dark green fruits.
'White Bush Scallop' is a range 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 best to start them from seed indoors before planting them outside.
Sow the seeds in pots of market propagating soil at about 1 inch deep. Sow 2 seeds in each pot and take off the weaker of the two when they germinate. 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.
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 salutary plants, especially when growing well in the open air.
--Mildew can attack the leaves in dry periods. Forestall this by remembering to water when necessary.
--Snails seem to have a taste for young leaves. take off them by hand.
Buying Tips
Buy seeds of varieties best marvelous to your climate. They are widely available from organery 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 sufficient 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 over with large, sometimes marbled, leaves on long stalks.
Flowering and fragrance
The flowers are large and yellow. The plants are ordinarily pollinated by insects but they may sometimes need a minute 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 over them in fall.
Watering and feeding
Plants with well-developed roots can tolerate a certain estimate 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 supply ample room for the roots.
Grooming
No thinning or pruning needed.
Propagating
Sow seeds indoors in pots in April-May. Repot seedlings, dry 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 furnish fruit for 3 months.
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