Growing Squash, Pumpkins And Zucchini

Growing squash, pumpkins and zucchini (a.k.a. courgettes) is rewarding if you have enough room in your garden. The plants are rather demanding in terms of the space that they need but you can harvest many delicious examples from one plant so most gardeners find them a very rewarding vegetable crop.

Squash, pumpkins and zucchini are all members of the same plant genus, Cucurbita, along with cucumbers, watermelons and gourds. They grow on vines. Technically they are fruit, not vegetables at all. However, they are often treated as vegetables in the kitchen.

Growing Squash

Squash growing on vine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Squash is a wide term that covers many different fruits but zucchini is a type of summer squash which will be covered later in this article. Therefore, under this heading of growing squash we will consider only winter squash such as butternut squash, acorn squash etc. Although these are called 'winter squash' they are grown in the warm season and harvested only a little later than zucchini.

A sunny corner of the vegetable garden is a good place for growing squash, pumpkins and zucchini. You can train the vines to grow out of the vegetable bed so that they do not take over too much of your precious composted soil. If you have more than one plant, they should be at least two feet apart, depending on the variety.

Water them regularly but do not allow the ground to become waterlogged. Harvest them when the vines that they are growing on start to become dry and shriveled.

Growing Pumpkins

Pumpkins are native to North America which is part of the reason why they have become so strongly identified with American traditions like Halloween and Thanksgiving. They will grow pretty much anywhere in the States except for Alaska. They prefer slightly acidic soil, pH 6.0 to 6.8.

Pumpkins like warm weather. In most climates you can plant in June or July for harvest in the fall. They like a certain amount of water but not too much. If the ground is too wet, the fruit can rot. On the other hand if the soil is very sandy or there is not enough water, the fruit will not grow well.

Growing Zucchini Or Courgettes

Zucchini is a summer squash thought to have originated in Italy. It is less sweet than pumpkins and most winter squashes and belongs to a different family in the same genus. The name 'zucchini' is used in North America and Australia and comes from the Italian (plural in Italian, but used for both singular and plural in English). The French name 'courgette' is used in all other English-speaking countries. Both 'zucchini' and 'courgette' mean 'small pumpkin'.

Zucchini flower being pollinated by a honey bee (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Zucchini are very easy to grow and often produce bumper crops for home gardeners. The flowers can also be eaten and make a beautiful garnish for salads. If you do pick the flowers, you will have fewer fruit. This can be an advantage if you tend to have a glut of zucchini each year.

One or two starter plants is enough for most gardens. You can grow them from seed and plant out as seedlings. They should have three months of frost-free growth outdoors when daytime temperatures are warm but not scorching hot.

Zucchini can grow to 2-3 feet long but they are usually harvested at around 8 inches when immature. If left to grow too long they become more fibrous and the seeds become harder.

Growing squash, pumpkins and zucchini relies on good pollination. This is naturally done by bees but if the bee population is not numerous in your area, you can help it along by hand pollination. Insufficient pollination will result in fruit that does not develop properly.

5 Best Veggies for Beginner Gardeners

Growing our own vegetables is one of the most rewarding things we can do for our health! But for beginning gardeners, starting a vegetable garden can seem somewhat intimidating. Whether it's a busy schedule that keeps you from being able to devote your full attention to your garden, or simply a seeming curse on every plant you try to grow, it can be hard to get started with growing your own vegetables at home - but don't fret because we've got some helpful tips for you this week!

Here's a list of the five best vegetables you can start with even if you're still a newbie gardener - and these are also great fun for kids to grow:

Carrot diversity (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Carrots – They're orange, they're tasty, horses around the world love them and so can you! Being a root vegetable, carrots are mostly safe from the elements so all you have to do is plant the seeds during some cool weather and in a few months (depending on variety) they're ready to pull up, wash off, and bite right into! If you're feeling adventurous, try a different kind than your standard orange carrot. Carrots come in a wide rainbow of colors, from white and yellow, to purple, and long and skinny to fat and round, so there are lots of interesting shapes and colors to choose from!


2. Peas – Peas go on this list like, well, I'll leave that joke where it is. Peas are easy to grow, especially if you have something they can grow on like a trellis or fence, although you can just use a wire support if your yard or garden bed isn't in an optimal place. Another cool weather veggie, these go great with carrots both together in your garden and on your plate in a fresh salad.


3. Pumpkins – Not just for carving for Halloween, although you can grow that variety if you'd like - but there are more tasty options out there. Pumpkins are fairly hardy provided you wait for frost season to be over, and they're great for watching grow from tiny flowers into big tasty treats. Perfect for planting when you can plan for them to be ready in the fall for October and November for pumpkin pie, you can cook and eat them tons of different ways or just enjoy a healthy, delicious batch of pumpkin seeds!





Black Pearl Peppers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4. Herbs – Basil, cilantro, sage, and thyme - no it's not a Simon and Garfunkel song - it's a list of great additions to your garden! Herb gardens are easy to put together and can even be grown indoors in windowsill planters if you've got limited growing space outdoors. Just pick some of your favorite herbs and and plant them together in a planter, and you'll have fresh herbs ready to pick and put right into your favorite dishes whenever you want to add a dash of fresh flavor to a meal.


5. Peppers – Whether you like them hot or mild, you're sure to love them colorful and tasty! Peppers grow in close to the same conditions as tomatoes, making them a great choice for new gardeners to sink their teeth into (depending on how hot they are of course!). Peppers can be sweet and tasty when eaten raw, and can also be made into myriad dishes from pasta sauces and chili, to curry or stuffed peppers.

Even if you feel like your green thumb is more like the touch of death all you might really need is a little practice with some veggies that are a little easier to grow. Start off with some of these popular and easy-to-grow gems, and you're sure to find your garden bursting with fresh vegetables of all kinds in no time!