Growing Summer Squash - Benefits and Instructions
Benefits of Growing Summer Squash
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Adaptable - Summer squash are fast growing and can easily be trained to grow vertically on trellises or tomato cages to save precious garden space.
- Nutritional Profile - Magnesium, calcium, iron, Vitamin A and B6.
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Use in: Soups, Stews, Curries, Baked goods.
Growing Instructions
Culture:
Sun Exposure: Choose a full sun location.
Soil: A soil pH of 5.5-6.5 is best. Squash are moderate feeders; prefer a rich loamy soil of good fertility and moisture retention. Mix plenty of organic matter into soil. Squash love lots of nitrogen!
Moisture: Even and sufficient soil moisture is essential.
Planting: Plant after all danger of frost has past or when the soil has warmed to 21-27 degrees C as seed will not germinate in cool soil. Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks ahead of last frost date.
Spacing: Plant 1 Squash per square foot of growing space using Square Foot Gardening Method. Or plant in rows 48-72 inches apart.
Sow seeds Sow summer squash 1 inch deep, 6 inches apart
Harvesting:
Harvest summer squash when they are 4-8 inches long and when their skin is still shiny. Harvest scalloped varieties when they are 3 to 6 inches in diameter. You can harvest zucchini and yellow summer squash as baby squash when the fruit is 4 to 6 inches long. Baby summer squash will be tender and tasty
Storage/Preparation:
Store summer squash by gently wiping the fruit clean with a damp cloth and then placing it in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator. Summer squash can also be frozen, canned or pickled.
Companions:
Corn, beans, tomatoes, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, nasturtiums.