THE SQUASH GAZETTE
Proud Sponsor of The Great American Squash Cookout
By Asunda Uribe
Silver City, New Mexico
SQUASH BITS
... The English word for "squash" derives from Askutasquash, a word from the Narragsnsett language. Its literal meaning is "a green thing eaten raw".
... Though most consider squash a vegetable, it is actually a fruit, being the receptacle for the seeds.
... In addition to the fruit, other parts of the plant are edible. Squash seeds can be eaten directly, roasted and/or ground into paste, or pressed for vegetable oil. The shoots, leaves and tendrils can be eaten as greens. The blossoms are a delicacy in many cultures.
... The flavor of summer squash is tastiest when it's at its smallest, but the flavor of winter sqwuash is better in the larger fruits, especially spaghetti squash.
... Winter squash develops more beta carotene after being stored than it has immediately after picking.
... Squash is low in calories, fat and sodium and a good source of fiber, calcium and phosphorus. Along with bets carotene it contains vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, potassium and phosphorus.
... According to http://www.cucurbit.org Cucurbits, the official juror of the World Pumpkin Federation, the record for the largest fruit in the world went to a 900 pound (US) squash until 1994 when a pumpkin weighed in at 1140 pounds. Since 2002 a pumpkin weighting in at 1337 pounds has held the record.
GROWING TIPS
Height: Summer Squash, 30 to 40 inches. -
Winter Squash, 12 to 15 inches.
Spread: Summer Squash, 12 to 16 Square feet. -
Winter Squash, 12 to 20 Square feet
Root Depth: Summer Squash, 12 to 16 Square feet. -
Winter Squash, 12 to 20 Square feet
Shade Tolerance: Needs full sun but will tolerate as little as 6 hours of sunlight.
Frost Tolerance: Tender, cannot tolerate any frost.
Preferred PH: 6.0 to 8.0.
Spring Planting Time: Summer Squash, can be planted from the frost free date to 4 weeks after. - Winter Squash, 2 weeks after the last expected frost.
Fall Planting Time: Summer Squash, 10 weeks before first expected frost. - Winter Squash, 13 weeks before first expected frost.
Water Requirements: Squash likes lots of water. Make sure plants get at least 1 inch water per week. Mulch well to conserve water.
Feeding Requirements: Apply compost or a slow general-purpose fertilizer in spring, then give the plants supplemental light feedings (side-dressing of compost or a foliar spray) monthly throughout growing season. For maximum production supplement every 2 weeks and apply foliar spray of liquid seaweed extract 2 or 3 times during growing season.
Container Size: For container gardening, 24 inches deep. Less for Square Foot Gardening.
Insect Pests: Aphids, Corn Earworm, Cucumber Beetle, Leafhopper, Mexican Bean Beetle, Squash Bug, Squash Vine Borer, Thrips and Whitefly.
Diseases: Anthracnose, Bacterial Wilt, Downy Mildew, Mosaic Viruses, Powdery Mildew and Scab.
Seed Storage: 4 to 5 years.
SUMMER SQUASH SUGGESTIONS
Romanesco ... An Italian variety of summer squash that is prominently ribbed, striped light and dark green and drier than most zucchini. The plant and fruit are much larger in size but produce less fruit. These varieties are prized in Italy for their high production of male flowers.
Raven ... A dark green zucchini containing higher levels of lutein than other varieties. High, concentrated fruit set and thinner skinned.
Ronde de Nice or Zucchini Tonda Nizza ... (45 days) A vigorous round, green zucchini. Early, compact plant makes it easy to harvest the squash.
Tromboncino or Trombetta ..... (60 days) A climbing Italian squash that produces long trumpet shaped lime green fruit that tastes similar to a mild artichoke. It is a vigorous climber so leave lots of space and build a tall sturdy trellis. Resistant to squash bugs and vine borers.
Zucchetta or Lageneria longissima ... An Italian vegetable used like summer squash if picked young. Needs to be trellised. Resistant to Squash Vine Borer.
Magda ... A light green Mid-Eastern Cousa style squash that is nuttier in flavor than most other zucchini.
Zephyr .... A green tipped yellow straight neck. Best tasting of the yellow squashes having a nutty flavor similar to Magda. High Yielding.
Flying Saucer ... A patty pan squash with an unusual coloration and nuttier flavor than traditional patty pan. The squash is deeply ribbed with a yellow top and green bottom.
Floridor ... A round yellow squash fun to grow alongside Ronde de Nice.
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