Squashes and pumpkins are members of the gourd family.
Summer squashes and pumpkins originated in Mexico
and Central America. Most winter squashes
originated in or near the Andes in northern Argentina.
Summer squashes--zucchini, patty pans and cocozelles
(Italian for vegetable marrows)--have whitish or yellow flesh. They are the
quickest to harvest--picked in summer while immature and as soon they are big
enough to use.
Winter squashes have orange flesh. They take longer to
mature than summer squashes. Harvest winter squashes when their skins are
extremely hard and their stems have started to dry out.
Pumpkins--which are simply very large hard-skinned squashes
that are usually orange--are the longest to harvest mostly because they are
commonly carved at Halloween and pureed for Thanksgiving pie. Like other winter
squashes they are picked when their skins are extremely hard and their stems
are dry.
The technique for planting summer squashes, winter squashes
and pumpkins is the same. Grow all squashes on hills spaced 3 to 8 feet apart
depending upon the leaf size--the larger the leaf the farther apart. Set
seedlings started indoors into the garden as soon as the weather has warmed.
Make sure squashes are large and strong before the end of June when squash
beetles hit the garden. The larger and stronger the plant the better it will
resist attack.
Squashes and pumpkins are members of the gourd family. Summer squashes and pumpkins originated inMexico
and Central America . Most winter squashes
originated in or near the Andes in northern Argentina
Summer squashes--zucchini, patty pans and cocozelles (Italian for vegetable marrows)--have whitish or yellow flesh. They are the quickest to harvest--picked in summer while immature and as soon they are big enough to use.
Winter squashes have orange flesh. They take longer to mature than summer squashes. Harvest winter squashes when their skins are extremely hard and their stems have started to dry out.
Pumpkins--which are simply very large hard-skinned squashes that are usually orange--are the longest to harvest mostly because they are commonly carved at Halloween and pureed for Thanksgiving pie. Like other winter squashes they are picked when their skins are extremely hard and their stems are dry.
The technique for planting summer squashes, winter squashes and pumpkins is the same. Grow all squashes on hills spaced 3 to 8 feet apart depending upon the leaf size--the larger the leaf the farther apart. Set seedlings started indoors into the garden as soon as the weather has warmed. Make sure squashes are large and strong before the end of June when squash beetles hit the garden. The larger and stronger the plant the better it will resist attack.