How To Grow Summer Squash

Summer squash is one of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow and it’s perfect for someone who is new to gardening that may not want a really complex plant to deal with right away. Squash plants are a member of the cucurbita family of vegetables which includes other types of squash and pumpkins too. There are tons of varieties of squash and they’re very easy to save the seeds from so if you take the time to clean a few out of their seeds you can have a really nice bunch of squash next year as well!

Squash are very easy to cross breed which ends up forming lots of varieties and new “mutations” of the plants so sometimes it can be hard to identify. Most squashes are vining plants but they also have a number of varieties like zucchini which are bush types so it’s important to have a good idea of what you’re planting before hand and make sure that you know how much space it requires to grow. Summer squash is a kind of squash that has a thin skin and is usually eaten with the skin on as opposed to winter squash which is often skinned prior to eating.

The best way to sow squash seeds is to plant them in rows or hills about one inch deep and space the rows depending on what type of variety you’re planting and how much room they need. Once your seeds have germinated you only want to keep the best two or three squash plants and then cover them very lightly with soil.

Squash plants do best in full sun and they need a really rich garden soil that is very well drained and has lots of good fertilizer and nutrients. This is one plant that you want to regularly giver fertilizer to because it will really help the size of the plant and of your harvest. You also need to water them very regularly especially during any dry weather and the stage of fruit growth. Water them deeply but be sure that the soil is just moist and not dripping wet. You should also be aware that irregular watering can result in the fruit ripening prematurely. Be careful to stay on top of any weeds as well especially in the early stages of growth which can be helped by adding an extra layer of compost or mulch and it will also feed the plant. Also make a point of training your vines in the direction that you want them to go and burying them a couple inches below the soil to promote more root growth. Keep them trimmed to have larger fruit.

It’s also important that you be aware of any diseases the squash might be susceptible to which, in the case of squash, is quite a variety of bacteria and fungus diseases especially bacterial wilt and powdery mildew and other problems that are common in hot and humid weather. Make sure that your plant is strong and healthy so that the can avoid these problems. Also watch out for insects like beetles that can damage your plants.

Squash are a great plant and the can give you a lovely crop if you take good care of them so spend a little time learning about them and you’ll have lots of tasty squash to eat!