Vegetable · Fruiting
Green Squash
Cucurbita pepo
A fast-growing warm-season summer squash (zucchini), picked young and tender rather than left to mature. A famously prolific producer once it gets going.
At a glance
Water
High
40–60 fl oz/wk
Light
Full sun
6–8 hrs/day
Space
Large
36 in
To maturity
45–65 days
Edible parts: Fruit
Family: Gourd
Includes watermelon, cucumber, squash, and melons. Sprawling vines with large leaves and separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
Harvest
Pick when fruit is 6-8 inches long and the skin is still glossy and tender; frequent picking keeps the plant productive.
Growing conditions
- Temperature
- 60–90 °F
- Soil pH
- 6–7.5
- Soil type
- Rich, well-drained soil high in organic matter
- Climate
- Warm-season, frost-tender.
- Growing season
- Direct-sow or transplant after the last frost once soil has warmed.
- Nitrogen
- High (≈60–100 ppm)
- Humidity
- Medium (≈40–70 %)
- Planting unit
- Seed
- Feeding schedule
- A heavy feeder; balanced feeding during vine growth, shifting to lower-nitrogen once flowering starts to favour fruit set over more vine.
- Pest resistance
- Low - watch for squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and powdery mildew in still, humid air
- Pests
- Cucumber beetles: Small yellow-and-black striped or spotted beetles that chew leaves, flowers, and fruit rind of vine crops, and can spread bacterial wilt., Powdery mildew: A fungal disease that coats leaves in a white, powdery film, weakening the plant and reducing yield., Squash bugs: Flat, brownish-grey bugs that suck sap from vine crops, causing leaves to wilt and blacken; can kill young plants in heavy numbers.
- Pruning
- None required; removing a few older leaves can improve airflow in dense plantings.
Where it grows
- In-Ground GardenIdeal
- Raised BedIdeal— Its bush habit fits a raised bed more comfortably than a sprawling vine crop.
- Container / PotPossible— Needs a very large container (10-gallon+) and a compact bush variety.
- Vertical / TrellisPossible— Some vining varieties can be trained up a sturdy trellis with fruit slings.
- HydroponicNot recommended— Size and fruit weight are impractical for most home hydroponic setups.
- WindowsillNot recommended— Needs far more light and space than a windowsill offers.
Companions & antagonists
No known companion pairings yet.
Sources
- Growing pumpkins and squash in home gardens — University of Minnesota Extension
- Summer Squash & Zucchini — Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center