Summer Squash

Summer Squash Production

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Summer squash (also known as “soft rind” squash) is a warm-season crop harvested at the immature stage. This vegetable shares the same family (Cucurbitaceae) as other gourds like cucumber and melons. Summer squash grows best in well-drained and slightly acidic soils (pH 5.8 to 7.0).

The most popular kind of summer squash is zucchini. Some zucchini types include dark green (Ambassador, Black Jack, Dividend, Elite, Onyx, Raven), medium green (Embassy, Spineless, Beauty, President), light green (Greyzini), and yellow (Gold Rush, Gold Finger). Other summer squashes include yellow straightneck (Multipik, Golden Girl), yellow crookneck (Destiny, Freedom, Sundance), and scallop squash(Peter Pan, Scallopini, Sunburst).

In California, summer squash production can be found in almost all areas of California, particularly in the Southern Desert (Imperial Valley), Central Valley (Kern to Merced Counties), and South-Central Coast (Santa Barbara and north).

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Different Resources about Summer Squash Production

• Summer Squash Production in California

• Crop Profile for Summer Squash in California (2000)

• Squash Pest Management Guidelines (see Cucurbits)

• Squashes (Winter and Summer) - How to Manage Pests (UC IPM)

• Sample Costs to Produce Summer Squash (2005)

• Squash (soft rind) - Postharvest Handling and Storage

• Summer Squash - Crop Overview (UCCE Master Gardener Program)

• Summer Squash Nutritional Information (USDA)

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