Summer squash
Summer squash is a name for squashes that are picked while the fruit is still young and the skin is soft enough to eat.[1] This is different from many winter squashes, which are usually picked when fully mature and have a hard skin.
Most common summer squashes belong to the species Cucurbita pepo.[2] These include zucchini, crookneck squash, straightneck squash, and pattypan squash. However, not all Cucurbita pepo plants are summer squash. Some pumpkins and winter squashes also belong to the same species.
Summer squash usually has tender flesh, soft seeds, and a thin edible skin.[3] It is usually eaten soon after harvest because it does not store for as long as winter squash.[1]
Types
[change | change source]Common types of summer squash include:
- Zucchini or courgette, usually long and cylindrical.
- Yellow straightneck squash, a yellow squash with a straight neck.
- Crookneck squash, a yellow squash with a curved neck.
- Pattypan squash, also called scallop squash, which is small, round, and flat with scalloped edges.
- Cocozelle, a striped type of zucchini.
- Cousa squash, a pale type of squash used in Middle Eastern cooking.
Some plants that are not Cucurbita pepo may also be eaten like summer squash when they are young. For example, tromboncino is a variety of Cucurbita moschata that is often eaten young and tender, like summer squash.[4] Young fruits of some luffa plants are also eaten as vegetables before they become fibrous.[1]
Growth
[change | change source]Many summer squash plants grow as bushes, so they take less space than many vining squashes.[3] However, some varieties can form long vines.[2] The plants grow best in warm weather. They have separate male and female flowers, and insects such as bees help move pollen between the flowers.[2]
Harvest and use
[change | change source]Summer squash is harvested before the seeds become hard and before the rind becomes tough.[1] It can be eaten cooked or raw. It is used in many dishes, including soups, stews, stir-fries, salads, breads, and baked foods. Squash flowers are also edible.[2]
Because the skin is soft, summer squash can be bruised or scratched easily. It is usually handled gently and eaten within a short time after picking.[5]
See also
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- 1 2 3 4 "Summer Squash". University of California, Davis, Postharvest Research and Extension Center. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Growing summer squash and zucchini in home gardens". University of Minnesota Extension. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Summer Squash". University of Florida IFAS Extension. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ "Tromboncino Squash". Clemson Cooperative Extension. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ "Summer Squash". University of Kentucky Center for Crop Diversification. Retrieved 21 May 2026.