![]() Urban Farmer offers many varieties of summer squash seeds, including zucchini, scalloped squash and yellow squash. Once the seedlings are old enough, fertilize the beds with fish emulsion or a soluble complete fertilizer at half strength. Prior to planting, add compost to the beds where you plan to plant the summer squash. Some fertilizer will help your summer squash grow to its fullest extent. Be sure to harvest all squash before the first frost. Use a sharp knife and leave about an inch of stem on the squash. Be sure to cut the squash from the vine instead of pulling it so you don’t risk pulling out the whole plant. Mature squash reaches 6 to 8 inches in length. Summer squash are best to harvest when they are still small and tender, as this is when they will taste the best. Do not opt to plant summer squash in containers, as they are likely to spread out. Be sure to not plant summer squash in an area where cucumbers or melons have recently grown. Some of the common pests summer squash experiences include aphids, cucumber beetles, flea beetles, slugs, snails and others, so take preventative measures against those. The summer squash plants also prefer full sun. Summer squash prefers soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.8. ![]() ![]() Once the seedlings have sprouted, thin them to 36 inches apart in all directions. If you are transplanting seedlings to the garden, wait until it has been 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost. Seeds should germinate within 7 to 10 days if the weather is warm enough. Sow the seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep and space them apart 12 to 18 inches, as the squash plants can become quite large. If the soil is still cool, you can protect the seeds or transplants by adding row covers to help warm the soil. If you are sowing the seeds directly outdoors, wait until the soil temperature has warmed to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. To plant:īegin summer squash indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last frost date. Summer squashes are tender and do best when grown in warm weather. Summer squash includes zucchini, yellow squash, scalloped, straight neck and other varieties. Summer squashes are a popular option for gardeners to grow due to the wonderful flavor and the ease of growing the vegetable. Learning Download: How to Grow Summer Squash From Seed to Harvest: A guide to growing summer squash. You can find many varieties of squash - both winter and summer squashes such as zucchini, yellow squash, acorn, butternut, even small scallop squashes and more at Urban Farmer. Throughout the squash’s growing season, use the 5-10-10 fertilizer monthly. Instead of composting, you can use a 5-10-10 fertilizer and spread 1 tablespoon per mound prior to planting. Prior to planting seeds, mix up to 3 inches of compost into the soil where you plan to plant the seeds. To encourage squash growth, it is important to fertilize prior to planting the seeds and during its growing season as well. Squash plants have high yields, making them a heavy feeder. Remove the interior of the blossom and add the petals to salads. Pick the first blooms that appear, as those are the males and if picked, they will not affect plant yields later in the season. If a squash becomes overripe, remove it from the plant to continue encouraging more yields. Harvest frequently, as the more you harvest the more squash will grow. Do not try to pull or twist the squash off the plant, as it may cause damage to the squash and the plant. To harvest, use pruning shears or scissors to snip the squash from the vine. Winter squash like acorn, delicata or butternut squashes are ready to harvest when their outer rind resists puncture by a fingernail. Zucchini will have a healthy sheen to its green skin. Summer squash varieties like zucchini and yellow squash can be harvested when they are young and tender or you can wait until they reach their full size, which is generally 6 to 8 inches long. TO deter weeds, a light layer of mulch can be applied but squash is a sprawling plant that usually doesn’t fall victim to weeds. Squash do best when in soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.7. Squash grow best in full sun so, if possible, plant on a south or southeast facing slope. Once seedlings occur, thin to two or three per mound. A 5- or 10-gallon bucket is large enough. Squash also grow well in pots or buckets. Squash can be started indoors three to four weeks before the last frost date. plant seeds 1 inch deep in mounds set 4 feet apart after all danger of frost has passed. Squash grow well in mounds, so hill up some soil and plant three to five seeds per mound. Winter squashes such as acorn, delicata and butternut can be used in dishes or even for decoration as a centerpiece of a table. Squash is an easy plant with high yields and comes in many different varietals. Squash is a very versatile plant to grow, with many different options for the home garden.
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