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Last edited on 14 Sep 2024. View history

squash Squash

Curcurbita Cucurbita

How to sow squash: Direct seed indoors or outdoors

Sun requirement for squash: Plant in Full Sun

Squash is a genus of herbaceous vines that have large edible orange flowers that mature into gourds or cucurbits. Squash are commonly divided into two main groups: summer and winter. Summer squash have shorter growing times, a bushy growth habit, tender skin, and are quite prolific. Common types include cucumbers, zucchini, and pattypan squash. Winter squash take longer to mature, have a more sprawling growth habit, and produce gourds with thicker skins that can be stored for a few months. Common winter squash are pumpkins, butternut squash, acorn, and delicata. Most squash transplant poorly. If starting from seed indoors, use peat pots that can be directly transplanted into the soil to reduce root disturbance. More growing information is available in individual species entries.

15
plantings
11
harvests
5
seed packets
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Squash facts

Lifespan

Annual living and reproducing in a single year or less

First harvest expected

18 weeks after planting

Last harvest expected

36 weeks after planting

Grown for

fruit harvested 10 times

Growing squash

  1. Sow seeds in pots 4 weeks before planting out
  2. Dig a pit and fill it with compost 2 weeks before planting out
  3. Harden off the seedlings 1 week before planting out
  4. Set or refill beer traps for slugs and snails at planting out every week
  5. Water deeply at the base 1 week after planting out every week
  6. Mulch around the plants 3 weeks after planting out
  7. Hand pollinate the female flowers 6 weeks after planting out
  8. Check leaves for powdery mildew 8 weeks after planting out every 2 weeks
  9. Lift fruit onto a tile or board 4 weeks before first harvest
  10. Pick fruit regularly at first harvest every week
  11. Pull out finished plants 8 weeks after first harvest

How members grow squash

Sunniness

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Planted from

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Harvested for

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Varieties of squash

Image of cucurbita maxima

cucurbita maxima

Cucurbita maxima
Image of kabocha

kabocha

Cucurbita maxima
Image of red kuri squash

red kuri squash

Cucurbita maxima
Image of turban squash

turban squash

Cucurbita maxima
Image of cucurbita moschata

cucurbita moschata

Cucurbita moschata
Image of tromboncino

tromboncino

Cucurbita moschata
Image of Cucurbita pepo

Cucurbita pepo

Cucurbita pepo
Image of acorn squash

acorn squash

Curcurbita pepo
Image of delicata squash

delicata squash

Cucurbita pepo var. pepo
Image of gem squash

gem squash

Cucurbita pepo
Image of pattypan squash

pattypan squash

Cucurbita pepo var. clypeata
Image of pattypan squash

pattypan squash

Cucurbita pepo var. clypeata
Image of pumpkin

pumpkin

Cucurbita spp.
Image of blue Hubbard pumpkin

blue Hubbard pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima
Image of buttercup pumpkin

buttercup pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima
Image of butternut squash

butternut squash

Cucurbita moschata
Image of NZ heritage butternut pumpkin

NZ heritage butternut pumpkin

Cucurbita moschata
Image of Chuck's winter pumpkin

Chuck's winter pumpkin

Cucurbita moschata
Image of crown pumpkin

crown pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo
Image of cupola pumpkin

cupola pumpkin

Cucurbita moschata
Image of green chestnut pumpkin

green chestnut pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima
Image of Hopi grey pumpkin

Hopi grey pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima
Image of ironbark pumpkin

ironbark pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima
Image of kamokamo

kamokamo

Cucurbita pepo
Image of Papapa kamokamo

Papapa kamokamo

Cucurbita pepo
Image of Ruatoria kamokamo

Ruatoria kamokamo

Cucurbita pepo
Image of Tolaga Bay kamokamo

Tolaga Bay kamokamo

Cucurbita pepo
Image of Queensland blue pumpkin

Queensland blue pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima
Image of triamble pumpkin

triamble pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima
Image of spaghetti squash

spaghetti squash

Cucurbita pepo var. fastigata
Image of yellow crookneck squash

yellow crookneck squash

Cucurbita pepo var. torticollia
Image of yellow summer squash

yellow summer squash

Cucurbita pepo var. recticollis
Image of zucchini

zucchini

Cucurbita pepo.
Image of cocozelle zucchini

cocozelle zucchini

Cucurbita pepo
Image of long green bush marrow

long green bush marrow

Cucurbita pepo
Image of Japanese pie pumpkin

Japanese pie pumpkin

Cucurbita argyosperma
Image of seven year melon

seven year melon

Cucurbita ficifolia
Image of Zambezi gem squash

Zambezi gem squash

Cucurbita pepo
Image of Zimbabwe squash

Zimbabwe squash

Cucurbita pepo

Plant squash with

Photos

Squash crops

Squash plantings

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2020-04-06_08-34-27
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Kamokamo
Kamokamo
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IMG_20180207_140636
IMG_20180207_140636
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IMG_20180207_140620
IMG_20180207_140620
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IMG_20170319_112118
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Squash harvests

2020-02-05_06-41-03
2020-02-05_06-41-03
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Kamokamo
Kamokamo
by shiny
IMG_20190406_222253
IMG_20190406_222253
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IMG_20180415_164852
IMG_20180415_164852
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IMG_20180415_164914
IMG_20180415_164914
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Squash seeds

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2020-03-10_09-58-59
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IMG_20190929_180620
IMG_20190929_180620
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IMG_20180721_130724
IMG_20180721_130724
by shiny

Where squash grow

Only plantings by members who have set their locations are shown.

What people are saying about squash

Orchard

by oakandsage,

Banana s have taken off. Both doing well. They only have about a month before the weather starts getting a bit cold, nights are already getting down to 50F some nights. Will have to think about frost protection soon.

Grapes that survived are doing well. The one …

bananas Common Figs cherries squash squash parsnip parsnips
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A slow start to summer

by Skud,

I'm so very, very behind on my gardening. I was travelling heaps and had lots of other commitments through October/November, which is peak spring planting time here, and nothing got done. I've come to the realisation that if I'm going to do work that involves that sort of travel, I need to cut …

cavalo nero cavalo nero sunflower sunflowers arugula arugula sorrels tomatoes San Marzano tomatoes eggplant eggplants zucchini zucchini squash squash
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Do I thin squash or not?

by Skud,

I just planted several varieties of squash, some bush-style (zucchini) and some vine-style (spaghetti squash, potimarron). Looking around the internets, the advice is almost universally to plant three seeds in one mound of compost or whatever you're growing them in. What's uncl…

squash squash
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No subject

by oakandsage,

My raspberry are flowering!

Anyone whose english pea plants yield spherical peas must be a saint. I only get spherical peas if I miss a pod. In the evening I sit out in the garden and eat peas until there is nothing worth eating left on the plant. Then I am done…

raspberry raspberries peas asparagus asparagus chard kale kale melon melons rhubarb carrot carrots dill basils squash squash cherries nectarine nectarines apple apples pomegranates blueberry blueberries
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Can you grow other stuff in a lavender bed?

by Skud,

Our landlords tried to make our rental property's garden low-maintenance by filling it the beds with all kinds of perennial shrubs and small trees. Unfortunately they planted everything really close together and it's caused all kinds of problems – things under trees not getting enough light, th…

lavender sunflower sunflowers squash squash
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Transplant Ho!

by melannen,

Most of the rest of my seedlings came up last week all together - I had forgotten how violently beens and squash can grow - so I did a bunch of transplanting. All but two of the seeds I started came up, and I think one of the other two is about to - I am gratified! Although if …

squash squash zucchini zucchini
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Image of squash

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Squash harvests

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Resources outside Growstuff.