Squash and zucchini

Evaluate these cucurbit family varieties for your squash and zucchini production.

By Chris Manning

Photo courtesy of respective breeder

Sugaretti

Sugaretti is a new spaghetti winter squash that prolifically produces a generous crop of mid-sized orange fleshed vegetables. The nutty sweet flesh can be used as a pasta substitute, simply roasted or blended in soups. Determinate vining plants have good disease resistance to powdery mildew and produce fruits slightly earlier than other similar varieties. For more: seedsbydesign.com

Photo courtesy of respective breeder

Butterscotch

This adorable small-fruited butternut squash has an exceptionally sweet taste and at just 1.25 pounds, is the perfect size for one or two servings. Compact vines are space-saving for smaller gardens or those customers who just want to fit more plants into the space they have. This All-America Selections (AAS) Winner will resist powdery mildew later in the season. For more: johnnyseeds.com

Photo courtesy of respective breeder

Bossa Nova

The dark and light green mottled exterior of this zucchini is more pronounced than other varieties on the market, which sets it apart and makes the fruits easier to see during a long and prolific harvest. Compact plants produce fruits earlier in the season and continue producing for three weeks longer than comparison varieties. During taste tests, AAS judges deemed the smooth flesh texture and sweet, mild taste much improved over other summer squash. For more: seminis.com

Photo courtesy of respective breeder

Honeybaby

Honeybaby is a productive variety of winter squash producing numerous fruits on a compact plant. These shorter vines grow two to three feet in a semi-bush habit showing great garden vigor which results in healthier plants that resisted powdery mildew later into the season, especially in the Southeast. Short, wide fruits are slightly larger, sweeter, nuttier and meatier than similar comparison varieties. For more: seedsbydesign.com

Photo courtesy of respective breeder

Easy Pick Gold II & Easy Pick Green

Open habit with nearly no spines on the petioles for easy and continuous harvests with no pain. Simply twist to pick — less scarring and clean harvest mean a longer shelf life. Parthenocarpic varieties means the plants will produce fruit without insect pollination. Offers improved disease resistance to ZYMV, WMV and PRSV. For more: handpickedveg.com

March 2017
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