Yellow summer squash is a warm-weather squash usually planted around the last freeze date in an area. Zucchini squash, while technically a summer squash, has a post of its’ own. Yellow squash is a Cucurbita, just as zucchini squash, cucumbers, and melons are. This means it must be planted separated from each of these by another crop or it will cross-pollinate. You can get some weird-looking, and tasting, squash that way.
Planting Yellow Squash
Squash likes to spread out but will follow a trellis if the vines are tied to one. Seeds are planted on small mounds, three to five a mound. When the seeds sprout, you pinch off the weakest vines until only the strongest one is left. It is important to pinch off the weak vines, as pulling them will disturb the roots of the strong ones.
Spacing Your Seeds
The mounds should be 12-36 inches apart from each other in the rows, and 34-40 inches from the next row. This can take up a lot of space, but one squash plant can produce a lot of squash. Resist the urge to plant more than four or five mounds of squash unless you are feeding an army.
Pollination
Squash has male and female flowers and bees or other creatures must pollinate it. Last year, they fell down on the job. You can hand pollinate squash. The female flowers have a baby squash at their base. The male flowers do not. Take a male flower and carefully peel away the squash blossom petals. Rub the ends of the male flower over the middle of the female slower. One male flower can fertilize about five female flowers.
Feeding and Watering
Squash is, like most vegetables,a heavy feeder and needs lots of fertilizer and water. Water so the squash get and inch of water a week. Follow the directions for fertilizing squash exactly, as too much fertilizer will make the plants grow very big but have little or no squash. A soil test is helpful in knowing how much fertilizer to put down, as well.
Harvesting Summer Squash
Summer squash is best when harvested at 4-6 inches long. You will have to pick the plant at least every other day for maximum yield and quality.
Fried Squash Blossoms
In the southern United States, squash blossoms are often picked, dipped in batter, and fried. It is best to use the male flowers for this and not to take all of them or the squash won’t get pollinated.
Saving Seeds
If you plant an open-pollinated type, you can let one or two squash grow out until they are completely ripe and save the seeds from them at the end of the season.
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