Guide to Growing 21 Delicious Summer Squash Varieties
Are you tired of the same old yellow crookneck squash in your garden? Do you want to explore the world of summer squash beyond the ordinary? Look no further because I have compiled a list of 21 of the best summer squash varieties for you to grow and enjoy.
These summer squash varieties come in a range of shapes, sizes, and colors, from traditional crooknecks to unique striped zucchinis and round pattypans. Whether you are an experienced gardener looking for new challenges or a beginner eager to try something different, this list has something for everyone.
Summer Squash Basics
Before we dive into the world of unique summer squash varieties, let’s revisit some basic information about these delicious vegetables. Summer squash belongs to the cucumber family and is a tender annual crop that is quick to mature. Unlike winter squash that requires a longer growing season, summer squash can be planted and harvested within a relatively short time frame.
These versatile vegetables have various culinary uses, including baking, sautéing, grilling, and even spiralizing. Each summer squash variety has its unique flavor and texture, making it suitable for specific cooking purposes. To help you choose the best varieties for your garden, I will provide detailed descriptions of each type, including their size, flavor, days to maturity, and culinary uses.
Now, let’s explore 21 of the best summer squash varieties that will take your gardening and cooking adventures to the next level.
Crookneck Varieties
1. Early Summer
- Description: An heirloom variety with narrow, curved necks and light yellow color.
- Flavor: Sweet and buttery with a creamy texture.
- Plant Size: Compact bushes with resistance to squash vine borers.
- Days to Maturity: 50 days.
2. Pic-N-Pic
- Description: A high-yielding hybrid with golden yellow fruits and smooth skin.
- Flavor: Good flavor with high productivity.
- Plant Size: Three to four-foot spread with easy-to-pick fruits.
- Days to Maturity: 50 days.
3. Supersett
- Description: An early-maturing hybrid with glossy yellow skin.
- Flavor: Sweet and nutty taste.
- Plant Size: Open bush plants with excellent mildew resistance.
- Days to Maturity: 40 days.
Yellow Straightneck Varieties
4. Early Prolific
- Description: An open-pollinated heirloom with club-shaped light yellow fruits.
- Flavor: Buttery and nutty.
- Plant Size: Two to two and a half feet tall with a two to three-foot spread.
- Days to Maturity: 50 days.
5. Lioness
- Description: A disease-tolerant hybrid with yellow-green fruits.
- Flavor: Resistant to various plant diseases.
- Plant Size: Two to two and a half feet tall with a two to three-foot spread.
- Days to Maturity: 50 days.
6. Zephyr
- Description: A hybrid cultivar with two-toned yellow and green fruits.
- Flavor: Nutty flavor with firm texture.
- Plant Size: Two-foot-tall bushes with good disease resistance.
- Days to Maturity: 54 days.
Zucchini Varieties
7. Black Beauty
- Description: An open-pollinated heirloom with dark green to black skin.
- Flavor: Creamy white flesh with excellent taste.
- Plant Size: Fast-growing bushes with abundant harvests.
- Days to Maturity: 50 days.
8. Caserta
- Description: A mottled light green zucchini from the University of Connecticut.
- Flavor: Rich taste with a firm texture.
- Plant Size: Vigorous and productive plants.
- Days to Maturity: 60 days.
9. Grey
- Description: A heat-resistant variety popular in Mexico and the Southwest.
- Flavor: Good taste with firm flesh.
- Plant Size: Bushy plants with arid climate adaptability.
- Days to Maturity: 45-60 days.
Striped Zucchini Varieties
10. Cocozelle
- Description: An heirloom from the 1880s with dark green skin and light green stripes.
- Flavor: Nutty taste with dense flesh.
- Plant Size: Bushy plants with open growth habits.
- Days to Maturity: 45-60 days.
11. Costata Romanesco
- Description: An Italian heirloom with ribbed fruits and dark green skin.
- Flavor: Nutty taste with tender skin.
- Plant Size: Vines up to five feet long with resistant to powdery mildew.
- Days to Maturity: 60 days.
12. Green Tiger
- Description: A hybrid with glossy, striped fruits and bold green coloring.
- Flavor: Tasty with striking appearance.
- Plant Size: Upright bushes with disease resistance.
- Days to Maturity: 55-60 days.
Yellow Zucchini Varieties
13. Cube of Butter
- Description: A hybrid with lemon yellow skin and succulent texture.
- Flavor: Buttery taste when cooked or raw.
- Plant Size: Compact bushes with excellent disease resistance.
- Days to Maturity: 50 days.
14. Golden Zebra
- Description: A patterned hybrid with golden color and faint white stripes.
- Flavor: Meaty texture with subtle stripes.
- Plant Size: Compact bushes with distinct coloring.
- Days to Maturity: 50-60 days.
15. Rheinau Gold
- Description: A Swiss open-pollinated variety with thin golden yellow skin.
- Flavor: Delicious fruits with small sizes.
- Plant Size: Open bush habits for easy picking.
- Days to Maturity: 50 days.
Round and Oval Zucchini
16. Golden Egg
- Description: An early-maturing hybrid with egg-shaped yellow fruits.
- Flavor: Sweet and nutty with bright color.
- Plant Size: Spreading plants with disease resistance.
- Days to Maturity: 41 days.
17. Ronde de Nice
- Description: A French heirloom with round milky-green fruits.
- Flavor: Rich taste for unique culinary uses.
- Plant Size: Compact bushes with variegated leaves.
- Days to Maturity: 52 days.
18. Tatume
- Description: A pumpkin-shaped heirloom with firm flesh and prolific flowers.
- Flavor: Heat-tolerant with delicious taste.
- Plant Size: Sprawling vines for large harvests.
- Days to Maturity: 65 days.
Scallop Squash Varieties
19. Bennings Green Tint
- Description: An heirloom from Charles N. Farr with pale green color.
- Flavor: Firm and creamy with exceptional taste.
- Plant Size: Compact bushes with early harvests.
- Days to Maturity: 50-60 days.
20. Panache Jaune et Vert
- Description: A French heirloom with creamy white and yellow skin.
- Flavor: Fine-grained texture with colorful appearance.
- Plant Size: Bushy plants for continuous harvests.
- Days to Maturity: 55-70 days.
21. Sunburst
- Description: A pattypan hybrid with glossy yellow fruits and disease resistance.
- Flavor: Mild and buttery with tender flesh.
- Plant Size: Compact bushes with dark green ring on fruits.
- Days to Maturity: 50-55 days.
Conclusion
Now that you have discovered 21 of the best summer squash varieties to grow in your garden, it’s time to start planning your squash adventures. From traditional crooknecks to unique pattypans and striped zucchinis, these varieties offer a range of flavors, textures, and colors to elevate your culinary creations.
Which summer squash varieties are you excited to grow this season? Do you have any favorite types of squash that you would like to share? Let me know in the comments below and happy squash gardening!
Before planting your seeds, remember to follow best practices for growing summer squash. And if you want to learn more about growing other types of squash, check out our guides on winter squash, zucchini troubleshooting, pumpkin varieties, and how to grow zucchini in containers.
With these tips and information, you’ll be on your way to a bountiful harvest of delicious summer squash in no time!
Happy gardening!
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