How to grow summer squash

Summer squash does everything but plant itself! If you're looking for a vegetable that's easy to grow and produces huge yields, you can't beat summer squash. Anyone who has grown zucchini can tell you how prolific these plants can be.

Summer squash is really easy to grow just keep in mind that it needs full sun, warm temperatures, fertile soil, and steady moisture. Almost any friable, well-drained soil in a bed that receives full sun will suffice, but for the best production a little preparation is required. Work in plenty of organic matter (compost, well-rotted manure) to loosen the soil, help the soil conserve moisture, and provide an abundance of nutrients the plants will need throughout the season. A soil pH of 5.5-7.5 is satisfactory with 6.0-6.7 being preferred. Once you supply these requirements and plant the seeds, you basically need only wait until harvest usually about 7 weeks later.

Summer squash is also easy to grow in containers. So, even if you have limited garden space, you can grow squash (particularly the bush varieties) on your patio or deck. A 5-gallon or larger pot can contain one or two zucchini plants?and the production will be phenomenal!

SEEDS OR PLANTS?

Seeds are the way to go. Plan for one plant per person in your family, tops. Any more and you'll be up to your elbows in squash come midsummer! Direct sowing is preferred to transplanting seedlings. Like most cucurbits, squash plants can't tolerate having their roots disturbed. Most summer squash varieties are ready to harvest in 50 days, give or take a few days.

Because they mature quickly and require warm weather, you can plant them following early spring crops like peas, lettuce, or spinach. Direct sowings any time from spring (after all danger of frost is past) to midsummer works well with most summer squash varieties. In fact, waiting to plant a few seeds in midsummer will help avoid problems from vine borers and other pests and diseases common earlier in the season.

Sow the seeds one-inch deep, spacing the plantings about 18 to 30 inches apart in the bed, depending on the variety. Follow seed packet instructions. Allow plenty of growing space for vining types. Where space is limited, grow only the bush varieties.

If you have a short season or want the earliest possible crop, start a few seedlings indoors, preferably in peat pots, two weeks before the last frost in your area. When setting out the plants, be extra cautious not to disturb the roots when transplanting them.
CULTIVATION

Here are three cultivation tips to keep in mind for prime summer squash. Plant in a warm soil. If the soil is below 60 degrees F., summer squash seeds are more likely to rot in the ground before sprouting. The ideal soil temperature for germination is 70-90 degrees F. Seeds will sprout in 6 to 12 days. Provide plenty of nutrients. Summer squashes are heavy feeders. If you incorporated organic matter into the soil prior to planting, there is no need to fertilize early in the season. However, when the plants begin to blossom and set fruit, a side dressing of balanced soluble fertilizer is beneficial.

Water deeply. A steady water supply is necessary for the best quality fruit.

Water deeply once a week, applying at least one inch of water. Shallow watering promotes shallow root development that is detrimental to yields. Don't judge the moisture content of the soil by the dryness of the surface, if the soil is dry four inches down, water. If the soil is moist at that depth, the plants will be fine. Wilting in scorching, mid-afternoon sun is normal for summer squash. They will recover when the sun goes down.
GROWING TIPS

To improve overall summer squash production, consider using the following three techniques.

Raised beds.
To get summer squash in the ground as early as possible in the spring, plant it in raised beds. Raised beds warm up faster and drain more readily than the surrounding ground. You should be able to get an earlier start.

MULCH.
While squash prefers full sun and warm soil, extreme heat and drought can stress the plants, reducing production. Mulch is essential to keep the soil around the roots moist and to regulate soil temperature. When the seedlings are two inches tall, apply a loose mulch of clean straw, hay, grass clippings, chopped leaves, shredded newspaper, or any mixture of these materials. As the plants mature, you can add more mulch to keep them happy.
Black plastic mulch is also recommended, especially to warm the soil in the spring.

HARVEST TIPS

Although summer squash can get quite large and still be edible (zucchini can become as large as a baseball bat if left on the vine too long), you're forfeiting quality and hindering subsequent yields if you allow it to get too big. Like most vegetables, summer squash is tender and tastiest when harvested young before seeds are fully developed. Harvest when the skin is still soft enough to be penetrated by a thumbnail. Pick zucchini when it's about 4 to 6 inches long. If you like stuffed zucchini, allow them to grow to 8 inches. Crooknecks and straightnecks are best 6 to 8 inches long. Patty pans should be harvested when 3 to 5 inches in diameter.

Here are two things to keep in mind when you harvest summer squash. Cut the fruits from the vine carefully. Using a paring knife or garden shears, cut the stem about an inch above the fruit. Don't try to twist or yank the squash as you could rip the skin or damage the plant.

Frequent harvesting increases yields. With all summer squash, regular picking will keep the plants in production all season long. Think of each plant as a squash assembly line. When the plants are going gangbusters in midsummer, you may have to harvest two or three times a week!   
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